Although it will be without fans, the 104th Indianapolis 500 runs on Sunday, and for the first time in its history, it will be held outside the month of May. Like it has been for every other racetrack, series and organization, this year has been challenging for the speedway, and at times, running the race in 2020 seemed like a pipe dream.
But this isn’t the first time the Greatest Spectacle in Racing has been in serious jeopardy. During World War II, the race went on pause and the future of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway looked bleak as metal, oil and manpower were reserved for a more important cause. Luckily, a former 500 winner and a businessman from Terre Haute came to the rescue, saving the track from years of disrepair.
To hear the full story, check out the video above from YouTuber The History Guy, who took a look back at how the pair came together to save one of the crown jewels of motorsports.
