Stuff I never knew here... like 3 where killed in this race in 1909 https://clickamericana.com/media/newspapers/three-killed-in-motor-car-race-1909
Did you ever read "Rapid Response" by Dr. Steve Olvey? When he first started helping out at the Speedway, there was one ambulance, and it was owned and operated by a funeral home. When it left the track, if it turned left it was going to the hospital. If it turned right, it was going to the funeral home. Anyway, it's a great book. Dr. Olvey did a bunch to improve medical conditions and responses in not only IndyCar (CART), but other racing series as well.
What's amazing to me is that spectators where killed and injured also and it's treated really like its no big deal. Times have changed...
That's the reason that it is the Brickyard. In 1909 the track was unpaved, which contributed to most of the accidents. So owner Carl Fisher decided to pave the track with bricks, and the inaugural 500 in 1911 was really the re-opening of the track in that configuration. There were still accidents and deaths, but not like 1909. And I don't believe the infield road course shown in those early sketches was ever built.
