As a grand prix venue Indy doesn't have much history having only hosted last year's US GP. But as host of the Indy 500 'the brickyard' is already famous as a world motorsport venue.
Originally built as a test track for the Detroit motor industry in the early part of the 20th century, Indy soon became a Mecca for motor racing in America as the Indy 500's reputation grew. The race became a round of the newly-formed world championship in the Fifties and F1 stars Graham Hill and Jim Clark took victories in the Sixties. Other F1 stars have also had success at Indy with Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi also scoring wins. Jacques Villeneuve continued this tradition of F1 world champions triumphing at Indy when he won the race in 1995.
The US GP was held at a number of venues since its appearance on the calendar in the late Fifties. Sebring was the first circuit to host the race, while Watkins Glen in New York State took a turn in the Sixties and Seventies. More recently the race took to the streets of Detroit and Pheonix, where the last race before Indy took place in 1991.