Indianapolis 1928.
A new Butler University campus was taking shape on the north side. One of the first buildings to open was the historic Butler Fieldhouse. The storied sports venue hosted its first basketball game on March 7. Butler defeated Notre Dame 21-13 in overtime.
A little further south, Crispus Attucks High School, the city's all-black high school, was wrapping up its first school year.
And to the west, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 16th Indianapolis 500 got underway with a new president at the helm. Former race car driver and World War I flying ace Captain Eddie Rickenbacker purchased the track nine months before.
A red, not green, flag flew to start the race on Wednesday, May 30. A field of just 29 drivers vied for the win.
Rookie driver Louis Meyer took the lead for the first time in the 182nd lap and held onto it. Driving an average of roughly 99 miles per hour, the 23-year-old earned his first 500 win, and just over $28,000 in prize money.
His days in victory lane were far from over.
MORE ON THE ROAD TO 100
1927 | 1926 | 1925 | 1924 | 1923 | 1922 | 1921 | 1920 | 1919 | 1916 | 1915 | 1914 | 1913 | 1912 | 1911 | Special Section: Road to 100 | Enter to win tickets to the Indy 500 | Start your engines: 100 stories in 100 days
Tune in to RTV6 News at 6 p.m. every night for our Road to 100, where we take a look back at each of the races leading up to the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Want tickets to this year's race? Tune in to RTV6 News at 6 p.m. and watch for the daily trivia question and answer, then click here to enter the answer to be entered daily for your chance to win tickets to the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29.
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