Indianapolis Speedway Balloon Races

The first competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a national championship gas filled balloon race organized by Speedway President Carl Fisher held on June 5, 1909. Fisher and his co-founders James Allison, Frank Wheeler and Arthur C. Newby were anxious to recover their investments in the Speedway. Since construction of the track did not begin in earnest until April 1909 it took months to prepare the track for motorized competition. Fisher, fascinated with aviation, sought to host the national championship balloon racing competition – and generate revenue for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Company. He formed the Aero Club of Indiana, became the 21st person to earn a balloon pilot’s license in the United States and worked with mentor George Bumbaugh to develop balloon vehicles. Their craft was called the “Indiana” and together they survived a harrowing ride through turbulent wind currents.