On May 30th, 1911, forty cars lined up for the first Indianapolis 500. Since then, a yearly race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that has been describe as "the greatest spectacle in racing". Do you watch the Indy 500 every year? This is the #history of the Indy 500. 📸 Getty Images | HISTORY

This Marmon Wasp was the first winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1911, thanks in part to a clever idea. Typical race cars of the time carried a riding mechanic to help keep the car in good shape during a race, and keep an eye on what was going on behind the driver. Marmon Wasp driver Ray Harroun had the ingenious idea to eschew the weight of an extra passenger in exchange for a small mirror mounted above the cowl, giving him an advantage in weight and aerodynamics! Marmon’s Indy 500 win helped p