The track that put Indy on the map draws flocks of speed-greedy visitors on Memorial Day and beyond.

by Contributor

Overview
If you haven't heard of the Indy 500 then you probably haven't heard of Indianapolis. Held on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway that put the city on the map, this track is also host to other legendary auto races, luring scads of visor-wearing, binocular-toting visitors to Indiana. The racetrack got the nickname "The Brickyard" because it was once paved with bricks.

The Experience
Even if you can't make it to the Indy 500, you should still drop by the racetrack. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum displays more than 30 race cars that have won the Indy 500. History-lovers take note: One of these speed demons dates all the way back to 1911. You may not break any world records, but hop aboard the minibus that carts visitors around the racetrack.