Indy 500

[JtD]

The legendary Indy 500 race is coming up this Sunday. While it may be fun on its own right, there's some interesting trivia connected to it from the WW2 aviation perspective.

 

The raceway was built by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Company, co-founded by Carl Graham Fisher, Arthur Newby, Frank W. Wheeler and, interestingly, James A. Allison. Allison and a couple of buddies also founded the Indianapolis Speedway Team Company, a small race car manufacturer and repair shop right on site. Their car won the the race in 1919. However, more importantly, the Indianapolis Speedway Team Company was contracted in WW1 with several engineering and maintenance tasks around aviation engines, because of their expertise with high performance engines. Earning a solid reputation and renamed into to Allison Engineering Company, the small race car workshop eventually developed into the largest engine manufacturer in the US for WW2, producing near 70000 of the V-1710, which powered the P-38, P-39, P-40 and several other aircraft.

 

So when the cars on Sunday cross the historical brickyard, you'll also see a bit of aviation history right there.

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

Not really into Modern Race Series. For me Motorsport Died with the End of Group B and Senna's Death. I do watch Formula E from time to time, but I have no real Interest in other Ongoing Race Series. 

 

For now the Pre-1923 Races in Goodwood tend to be more exciting. 

 

 

Edited May 26, 2017 by 6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann

[MiloMorai]

the small race car workshop eventually developed into the largest engine manufacturer in the US for WW2, producing near 70000 of the V-1710

 

Nice trivia JtD but P&W built 352,462 engines of which there was 155,504 R-1830s and 114,073 R-2800s.