How a baking powder tycoon and a driver saved the Brickyard
In short: During World War II, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway faced permanent closure to make way for housing. This video explores how two unlikely figures intervened to ensure the race survived into the modern era.
The survival of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was not guaranteed during the 1940s. The site faced a very real threat of being converted into a residential housing development, which would have effectively ended the tradition of the race.
The preservation of the 'Brickyard' is credited to the combined efforts of Wilbur Shaw, one of the track's most legendary drivers, and Tony Hulman, a businessman primarily known for his baking powder brand. Their intervention prevented the land from being repurposed, securing the future of American motorsports.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Saving the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Wilbur Shaw and Tony Hulman
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