| IMS GARAGE HISTORY |
| The Indianapolis Motor Speedway GARAGES PHOTO HISTORY 1910-1980 |
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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has had garages since it came to life in 1909.
Over the past 100 years, the garage area has evolved.
For instance they were once wood frame structures and are now concrete buildings.
In the very beginning, the garages were 14 scattered buildings located inside Turn 1.
By at least 1916, two long buildings replaced those and was relocated further north,
to a location where the garage area would remain.
The road between them led to the track and would one day become known as
"Gasoline Alley."
Those two buildings have been replaced or changed several times.
The first time was because of a fire.
In the early 70s their length and garages was increased.
Those buildings are gone now, replaced by three buildings placed perpendicular to
the old garages.
Over the past 100 years, the garage area has evolved.
For instance they were once wood frame structures and are now concrete buildings.
In the very beginning, the garages were 14 scattered buildings located inside Turn 1.
By at least 1916, two long buildings replaced those and was relocated further north,
to a location where the garage area would remain.
The road between them led to the track and would one day become known as
"Gasoline Alley."
Those two buildings have been replaced or changed several times.
The first time was because of a fire.
In the early 70s their length and garages was increased.
Those buildings are gone now, replaced by three buildings placed perpendicular to
the old garages.
| TURN 1 GARAGES THE FIRST INDIANAPOLIS 500 - May 30, 1911 |
In the following 1910 photo, the Wright Brothers put on a flying demonstration.
In the far background, to the right of the tree, you can see a large building.
That was a hanger for hot air balloons.
In the far background, to the right of the tree, you can see a large building.
That was a hanger for hot air balloons.
In the next photo, you can a hot air balloon in back of the garage area.
| Garage Buildings at Indy Speedway - 1910 |
| The 1941 Fire |
On the morning of the 1941 race, a fire broke out in the southern
garage building.
It started when welding sparks from Joel Thorne's garage, ignited
fuel fumes in George Barringer's garage where mechanics were
draining fuel into a bucket.
With garages loaded with gasoline and other petroleum products,
four explosions were heard.
The fire burned down 24 of the 30 garages before fire fighters could
make their way past race day traffic to put it out. Seven people
sustained minor injuries. Fortunately, many of the race cars had
been taken to the track by then. The only car destroyed was
Barringer's and two cars that had not qualified.
The fire caused the race to be delayed two hours.
garage building.
It started when welding sparks from Joel Thorne's garage, ignited
fuel fumes in George Barringer's garage where mechanics were
draining fuel into a bucket.
With garages loaded with gasoline and other petroleum products,
four explosions were heard.
The fire burned down 24 of the 30 garages before fire fighters could
make their way past race day traffic to put it out. Seven people
sustained minor injuries. Fortunately, many of the race cars had
been taken to the track by then. The only car destroyed was
Barringer's and two cars that had not qualified.
The fire caused the race to be delayed two hours.
| Inside the Garages 1913 |
The scattering of garages buildings in Turn 1 were soon replaced by
two long buildings, running east-to-west and moved north, closer to
the race control tower.
two long buildings, running east-to-west and moved north, closer to
the race control tower.
| George Barringer's rear-engined 6-cyl. Miller Special - Before and After the Fire. |
Comparing an aerial photo from 1936 and 1953, the garages were the same size.
In later aerial views, one can easily see that the length of the garages grew.
In later aerial views, one can easily see that the length of the garages grew.
| 1916 |
The garages were rebuilt later in the year, however, they would not be used
until 1946 due to WWII and the closure of the speedway from 1942-1945.
During the war, racing was halted in America to conserve resources, such
as rubber and fuel. When the speedway was able to reopen for racing, Tony
Hulman was the new owner, having purchased it from Eddie Rickenbacker.
until 1946 due to WWII and the closure of the speedway from 1942-1945.
During the war, racing was halted in America to conserve resources, such
as rubber and fuel. When the speedway was able to reopen for racing, Tony
Hulman was the new owner, having purchased it from Eddie Rickenbacker.
Miscellaneous Photos 1960-1980
Eddie Sachs Garage 1961
Garages 1969
Garages 1971
Fueling Station 1979
| 2024 The entire garage area was redone in 1985. |
The entire garage area was demolished, redesigned and rebuilt for the 1985 season.
* The two long east-to-west garage buildings were replaced by three north-to-south
concrete buildings abutting Gasoline Alley.
* A long concrete building running east-to-west was placed across Gasoline Alley
from the garages. This building is for various race-related companies, such as tires
and parts.
* A two-story concrete building was built along the front of the garage area for suites
and restrooms.
* A fuel building with more garage was built in the back of the garage area.
While the plain, gray, rectangular concrete structures are better and larger in most
every way, the old white buildings with the green trim were quaint, hearkening back
to a bygone era that symbolized the age and history of the motor speedway. Today,
there is little or no old structures still standing at Indy, a regret for the romantics.
However, you can still see what the old garages were like as a mock up exists inside
the IMS Museum. The Museum of American Speed in Lincoln Nebraska also has a
mockup of the old IMS Garages.
* The two long east-to-west garage buildings were replaced by three north-to-south
concrete buildings abutting Gasoline Alley.
* A long concrete building running east-to-west was placed across Gasoline Alley
from the garages. This building is for various race-related companies, such as tires
and parts.
* A two-story concrete building was built along the front of the garage area for suites
and restrooms.
* A fuel building with more garage was built in the back of the garage area.
While the plain, gray, rectangular concrete structures are better and larger in most
every way, the old white buildings with the green trim were quaint, hearkening back
to a bygone era that symbolized the age and history of the motor speedway. Today,
there is little or no old structures still standing at Indy, a regret for the romantics.
However, you can still see what the old garages were like as a mock up exists inside
the IMS Museum. The Museum of American Speed in Lincoln Nebraska also has a
mockup of the old IMS Garages.
| Indy Garage Doors - Then & Now |
The old garages featured a row of windows above the garage doors to let in
more sunlight. While the new garages still had windows in the doors, the
windows above the doors were gone.
more sunlight. While the new garages still had windows in the doors, the
windows above the doors were gone.
1916-1941 Garages
had windows above
doors
had windows above
doors
1942-1984 garages
| 1936 |