Centennial Golden Brick placed in ‘Yard of Bricks’ at IMS

A Centennial Golden Brick was placed in the famous Yard of Bricks on Tuesday, May 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, celebrating the 100^th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 and re-creating an iconic moment in the storied track's history.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Chairman of the Board Mari Hulman George, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Belskus participated in the ceremony. Belskus placed the 37-pound golden brick in the center of the remaining exposed, 3-foot strip of the original bricks that were used to pave the 2.5-mile oval in 1909.

The Centennial Golden Brick will remain in the track through the 100^th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29.

"The golden brick is a wonderful tradition that I'm glad to continue this year on the 100^th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 and the 50^th year of A.J.'s first win at Indianapolis," George said. "Placing the golden brick with Ray Harroun in 1961 was a thrill for my father, and I'll also cherish this memory."

On Nov. 6, 1961, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman and Ray Harroun placed a golden brick in the Yard of Bricks to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Harroun's victory in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911.

This year, Foyt is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of his first Indianapolis 500 victory, in 1961. That was the last race at IMS in which the front straightaway was paved with bricks. The entire front straightaway was paved with asphalt in October 1961 except for the 3-foot strip of bricks at the start-finish line.

"I'm just happy that I lived long enough to be part of this special tradition," Foyt said. "I think Tony Hulman would be very proud of how Mari has taken care of the Speedway over the years, and I'm sure he's watching over her today."