Balloons to race at Indy again

Published 4:47 pm Friday, January 16, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will begin its centennial celebration of events leading up to the Indianapolis 500 with a series of balloon races in May.

A helium-filled balloon race was the first event at the Speedway on June 5, 1909, more than two months before the 2½-mile track was completed and two years before the first Indy 500. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the track’s opening, about 50 balloons will take part in a series of events May 1-3.

Practice for the May 24 Indianapolis 500 begins May 5 with the annual Rookie Orientation Program.