Indianapolis 500 1951

The Indianapolis 500 (or Indy 500) is the most important car race of the year in the United States. The race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, founded in 1909 by Carl G. Fisher, James A. Allison, A.C. Newby and Frank H. Wheller, in Speedway, Indiana. 500 is the number of miles that are covered in the race (which is roughly 805 km) and equivalent to 200 laps of the speedway. The first 500 mile race was introduced in 1911 and is always on the Sunday before Memorial Day. R. Steele has captured the blue Belanger Motors Special Nr. 99 mid-race. The dirt being kicked up at the back of the automobile suggests the speed of the race. In 1951 Lee Wallard (1910 - 1963) won the Indy 500 in the Nr. 99, as seen in the painting. In 1954 he attempted to participate in another Indy 500 race but he did not qualify.