IndyCar

From the days of the first 500-mile race at the “Brickyard” in 1911, the Indianapolis 500, now the largest single-day sporting event in the world, has held a special place in this city. Like many sports, access to the race for Black drivers was prevented by Jim Crow policies. From 1924 through 1936, Black drivers instead participated in their own race, the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, which was held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

 

The barrier for Black drivers continued for decades, until 1991 and 1993, when professional racer Willy T. Ribbs became the first African American to qualify and drive this open-wheel IndyCar in the Indianapolis 500. Thinking back on qualifying for the race in 1991, Ribbs told Motorsport magazine, “They were on their tippy-toes. Some were crying. You could feel the happiness and the energy. There’d been a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.”