Learn more about the history of the Indy 500.
Erik Gregersen
https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-the-indy-500-held-on-memorial-day-weekend
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The first full year of auto racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was 1910. Races were held over the weekends of Memorial Day (then called Decoration Day), the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. However, attendance fell off over the summer. The speedway’s management felt there had been too much racing, and the decision was made to do just one long race in 1911.
The Fourth of July was considered, but Decoration Day was chosen for several reasons. The Decoration Day races had been the most successful of the 1910 season. Local farmers typically took a break in late May after “haying” (baling hay). Decoration Day was then a fixed holiday occurring on May 30. Because many people worked on Saturday, the first Indianapolis 500 was held on Decoration Day itself, which occurred on a Tuesday in 1911.
Five hundred miles was chosen as the distance for the race because, based on the speed of racing automobiles in 1911, such a race could begin at 10 AM and finish in time for spectators to return home for supper.
