It was in 1945 that Terre Haute businessman Tony Hulman bought the then dilapidated Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Eddie Rickenbacker.
Rickenbacker was the second entity to own the speedway, which was developed by auto magnate Carl Fisher and two others in 1909 as a proving ground for automorive advances.
The first 500 mile race was run in 1911.
It was closed in 1941 in deference to World War II, and was in pitiful shape when Rickenbacker sold it to Hulman and Company.
Over the years, Hulman and his family have poured countless millions into the speedway to the point that it’s main race, the Indianapolis 500, is the largest single-day sporting event in the world, and a win at Indy is one of the most coveted trophies extant in the auto racing world.
As of today, Roger Penske, the winningest car owner on the Indy Car circuit, with 18 wins at Indianapolis to his credit, is the new owner of most of Hulman and Company, including the speedway, it’s television production arm, and the IndyCar organization.
The sale price was not disclosed in any press releases nor at a late-morning news conference at the track.
