Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aviation Grounds

This panoramic photo of the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was published in the Indianapolis Star in June 1910, just prior to the June 13 - 18 aviation show, one of the first ever conducted in America. A dramatic photo, it is emblematic of the vision and interests of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway founders, especially Speedway President Carl Fisher. Fisher was a promoter extraordinaire but also a man fascinated with the possibilities of technology and its potential impact on the lives of people.
 
This photo shows the structures put into place to support aviation events, most notably the aerodrome - a giant hanger built to accommodate aircraft of the day. The planes, most of which used sled skids instead of wheels, were launched using a wooden rail in which the skids slid along as they were manually pushed and propelled by the craft's engines.