Fairbanks’ contributions not just to philanthropy, but to the world of radio and to the ongoing vitality of the city of Indianapolis and its most famous event. The Indianapolis 500 usually draws up to 300,000 spectators, making it one of the largest single-day sporting events. At the Foundation, we are grateful for the opportunity each May to reflect on Mr. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Network and the coverage of the Indianapolis 500 was just one piece of Dick Fairbanks’ legacy in Indianapolis and across the country. It was a radio engineering feat that allowed the Indianapolis 500 to become a highly anticipated annual event even for those unable to attend the race in person. His team piloted the very first “flag to flag” coverage of the Indy 500, positioning announcers at multiple points around the track, to give listeners the sense of actually being in the stands.
In 1952, Dick Fairbanks established the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network as a part of WIBC radio, which he owned through Fairbanks Communications. In The Indianapolis 500: Inside the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, speedway tour. I covered the race for the newspaper… I covered one small segment of it, but I was part of the team.”* When Dick had the opportunity to completely reimagine what radio coverage of the race looked like, he jumped at the chance. Known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indy 500 humbly began in 1911.
Fairbanks, who passed away in 2000, owned and operated Fairbanks Communications, Inc., a privately-held company headquartered in Indianapolis.ĭick Fairbanks was a lifelong fan of the Indy Speedway, once recounting “when I grew up, I became a real fan. The term The Greatest Spectacle in Racing is derived from the standard station out cue which has been used on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network broadcasts now for over 60 years. This Sunday, May 26th, an estimated 300,000 people are expected to attend the race in person, but millions more are expected to follow along at home on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network – thanks in part to our founder, Richard M. From the annual 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and the 500 Festival Parade downtown, to the qualifying races and final practice laps at Carb Day, the entire month is filled with activities building up to race day. Throughout the month, lifelong Hoosiers and visitors from around the globe come to Indianapolis to celebrate the Greatest Spectacle in Racing – the Indianapolis 500. The Indianapolis 500 usually draws up to 300,000 spectators, making it one of the largest single-day sporting events. Scroll through the Mega Gallery above to get an idea of what it was like both inside and outside the track.“My most important contribution to the industry has been the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Network, because it was the biggest thing that ever happened in radio and because more people listened to it – all around the world.” – Dick Fairbanks, interviewed in In the Public Interest*įor many Hoosiers, the month of May means only one thing: it’s race time. And more fans gathered around campers, RVs and other vehicles in parking lots. Hundreds more were tailgating across 16th Street - one of the two primary thoroughfares to the track. The Indianapolis 500 has become the most famous race in motorsports over the last 102 years, combining speed and daring in a heady blend that makes for. Turning on the television to watch the race was a bit of a shock, even if we’re all starting to grow accustomed to watching sports without anybody in the stands.ĭespite nobody being allowed inside, the Associated Press reports that hundreds still lined the fence on the track’s north side, hoping to catch a glimpse of cars speeding past. Because of that, photos from the race are a bit weirder than usual. There was some waffling on whether fans would be allowed to watch in person at Indy, but the decision was ultimately made to make it a fan-free event for safety reasons. It’s the second time Sato has won The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, but this time he did it without a single fan in the grandstands. Takuma Sato took the checkered flag at the 104th Indianapolis 500 this year.
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