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The Eddie Rickenbacker Era: A Golden Age for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Quincy Ward

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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a long and storied history, but few eras were as golden as the Eddie Rickenbacker era.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway- the Eddie Rickenbacker Era

by Paul Ruditis

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Rickenbacker, a World War I flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient, took over as president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1927. He immediately set about making improvements to the track, including the addition of new grandstands and the installation of a new track surface.

Rickenbacker also helped to attract some of the biggest names in racing to the Speedway, including Barney Oldfield, Ralph DePalma, and Tommy Milton. These drivers helped to make the Indianapolis 500 one of the most prestigious races in the world.

The Eddie Rickenbacker era came to an end in 1945, when Rickenbacker resigned as president of the Speedway. However, his legacy continues to this day. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is still one of the most iconic race tracks in the world, and the Indianapolis 500 remains one of the most prestigious races.

The Improvements Made by Eddie Rickenbacker

When Eddie Rickenbacker took over as president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he immediately set about making improvements to the track. These improvements included:

The addition of new grandstands
The installation of a new track surface
The construction of a new pit lane
The installation of a new timing system

These improvements helped to make the Indianapolis Motor Speedway one of the most modern and safest race tracks in the world.

The Drivers of the Eddie Rickenbacker Era

The Eddie Rickenbacker era was also a golden age for drivers. Some of the biggest names in racing competed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during this time, including:

Barney Oldfield
Ralph DePalma
Tommy Milton
Louis Chevrolet
Wilbur Shaw

These drivers helped to make the Indianapolis 500 one of the most exciting and unpredictable races in the world.

The Legacy of Eddie Rickenbacker

The Eddie Rickenbacker era came to an end in 1945, when Rickenbacker resigned as president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, his legacy continues to this day.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is still one of the most iconic race tracks in the world, and the Indianapolis 500 remains one of the most prestigious races.

Eddie Rickenbacker's contributions to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are immeasurable. He helped to make the track one of the most modern and safest in the world, and he helped to attract some of the biggest names in racing to the Speedway.

Rickenbacker's legacy will continue to inspire generations of race fans for years to come.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway- the Eddie Rickenbacker Era

by Paul Ruditis

4 out of 5