Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is known worldwide as "The Brickyard," a nickname that harks back to its original 1909 paving. When the track was first built, its 2.5-mile oval was surfaced with 3.2 million bricks, each laid by hand and sealed with tar to create a durable racing surface.
Over the decades, the bricks were gradually covered with asphalt to improve smoothness and safety. By 1961, the entire track had been paved over—except for one iconic strip. A 36-inch-wide yard of the original bricks remains exposed at the start-finish line, serving as a tangible link to the Speedway's storied past.
Since Dale Jarrett did it after winning the 1996 Brickyard 400, it has become a victorious tradition for NASCAR and IndyCar winners to kiss the brick strip in celebration. The ritual underscores the deep reverence drivers and fans hold for the track's history.
"The Brickyard" embodies the Speedway's identity as a cathedral of speed. It connects the modern era of high-tech racing to the daring early days when the brick surface tested both machine and driver to their limits.