IndyCar/CART

THE Indianapolis "500" is much more than merely the best known automobile race in the world. It is a cherished time-honored institution with a glorious history dating back more than one hundred years. Known to most as, quite simply, "The 500," it has been held every year since 1911, the only exceptions being 1917-18 and 1942-45, during the periods when America was involved in the two world wars. Steeped in tradition, it has meant many things to many people and has played an enormous role in the lives of human beings, perhaps even more so for the spectators and devotees than for the participants themselves. For over half a century, Memorial Day meant either trekking to the track or else ensuring that whatever other activity was planned for the day, a radio would always be within earshot. In more recent decades, settling down in front of the television has been added to the equation, while it is now the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend on which the extravaganza takes place, rather than on Memorial Day itself. But the feeling is the same. For the participants, it has been a nearly 100-year saga of dreams, innovation, ingenuity, bravery, triumph, and tragedy. Paupers became millionaires, young men from small towns and broken homes became international celebrities, and regrettably, some of them gave their lives. The "500" has endured world wars, depressions, recessions, political strife, and negative journalism, and yet it continues to draw massive passionate and emotional crowds, whose loyalty is rewarded with never-to-be-forgotten moments such as the finishes of 2006 and 2011, when Dan Wheldon snatched victory on literally the final turn. This, then, is the story of the Indianapolis 500 and how it came to be. This is the story of more than 100 editions of the race, interspersed with a look at some of the compelling personalities, some little-known facts, an attempt to document the origins of some of the traditions, and perhaps even to dispel a few myths. From Harroun to Franchitti, it's all here…

Roger Penske was always looking for ways to gain the 'Unfair Advantage' with his cars. The Penske PC23 Mercedes, debuted at the 1994 Indy 500, bent the rules very close to the breaking point. Created in absolute secrecy, the new engine from Ilmor gave Team Penske 200 more horsepower than any other car in the race.

A young man with a secret past chases his dreams. Funny, gripping, and inspired by true events. The finish line is only the beginning... Teddy has been racing cars since he was seven. He's always dreamed of driving professionally. But when an old friend calls him on the eve of his 17th birthday and offers him the chance to make his dream a reality, Teddy can't help but ask himself - is he ready? From his first go-kart race to his days at racing academy, the road to the biggest race in Teddy's life is anything but smooth. Along the way, he makes friends who support and shape him as a driver, and he battles those who will do anything to stand in his way. He discovers secrets about his past that force him to question his destiny. And when he's confronted with the dangerous realities of racing at the highest level, Teddy must face the ultimate question. Is it all worth it? Christopher Hinchcliffe draws inspiration from the life of his brother, Canadian Indy Car driver James Hinchcliffe, to tell a moving and action-packed story that pulls you into the driver's seat for a ride you'll never forget. Full of true-to-life details and stories adapted from his brother's own rise through ranks of racing, the book offers a unique glimpse into this high-paced world. Chasing Checkers has something for everyone - it's not just for race fans. If you love sports fiction, YA, action and adventure, or inspirational books, you will find something to enjoy.

Since the dawn of automotive racing, the world's best drivers have tested their skills, bravery and the limits of speed in the legendary Indianapolis 500. The winner claims the historic Borg-Warner Trophy, and racing immortality. Officially licensed in cooperation with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis 500: A Century of Excitement tells the compelling and entertaining story of the race that has become known as simply "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Overflowing with photographs hand-picked from the Speedway's mammoth photo archives, and filled with historic, behind-the-scene stories, you'll revel in the history that has shaped this amazing event.

When a group of Indianapolis businessmen built a 2 1/2-mile track and decided to stage a 500-mile race in 1911 it was an epic undertaking with a huge purse for the times that drew racers from Europe as well as America. Delage, Peugeot, Ballot and Mercedes cars came to win dollars and inspire America's racing-car builders, Harry Miller and the Duesenberg brothers. Soon these native talents came to dominate the 500-mile race, introducing supercharging and front-wheel drive with great success in the 1920s and 16-cylinder engines in the 1930s. This new book in the Ludvigsen Library Series covers racers through the 1930s, completing the Series' sweeping panorama of the cars that raced in the ''500'' from 1911 to the end of the 1970s. Many rare photos from the earliest days of Indy bring the cars, engines and personalities of these pioneering years to life. The drama of their achievements made the Indianapolis 500 the world's greatest auto race.

For the Old World caught up in the traumas of a bitter conflict, Americas Indianapolis 500-mile race was a New-World beacon of auto-racing speed and excitement during the 1940s. While racing stopped in Europe in 1939, the Indy 500 raced on in 1940 and 41, bringing victories in both years for Wilbur Shaws Maserati. Racing resumed in 1946 with Shaw in charge of the Speedway, now owned by Tony Hulman. The post-war fields were full of exotic machinery from Fageols twin-engined four-wheel-drive car and the front-drive Blue Crowns-1947-48-49 winners-to the rear-engined Tucker Millers and Rounds Rocket plus the imported 1939 Mercedes-Benz of Don Lee and numerous Alfa Romeos and Maseratis. The first Kurtis racers made their debut, as did the awesome Novi. The six-cylinder Thorne Special won in 1946 and Indys only six-wheeled car competed as well. This new Ludvigsen Library book brings to dramatic life the spectacle and excitement of the 1940-1949 era at the Speedway.

The 1970s was the last creative decade at the great Speedway. The spirit of innovation was still strong in the 1970s, which Ludvigsen calls "The Last Creative Decade" at the great Speedway. The turbocharged decade witnessed the extinction of the venerable four-banger Offy and the rise of the Cosworth V-8, which took Indy racing into the 1980s. A tire war and advanced aerodynamics saw speeds rise so sensationally that, as Ludvigsen says in his insightful Introduction, "The 1971 pole-winning speed wouldn't have qualified a driver for the 1972 race!" Revealing intimate details of the last progressive and experimental decade at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this book is a must for fans of the world's greatest motor race.

Written to answer every question prospective karters and their parents may have, this book addresses all aspects of the sport that has groomed young drivers for the top echelons of professional automobile racing. From choosing class, chassis, and engine type to finding the right safety equipment, this book offers a wealth of information for young drivers and parents starting out in the U.S. and Canadian karting scenes. Top authority Jean Genibrel also leads newcomers through the sport's terminology, and illustrates his text with a wide selection of photography. Other topics include: buying used equipment, dealing with kart shops, schools and associations, and money-saving strategies.

Pace Cars of the Indy 500 provides an up-close, hands-on, in-depth, and unique perspective on these interesting autombiles.