Behind the Bricks: Preserving the Yard of Bricks

For the first time in nearly two decades, there’s a fresh Yard of Bricks.
It’s not often that portions of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway are dug up and replaced, but that’s just what happened this winter at the Racing Capital of the World. This week on Behind the Bricks, IMS President Doug Boles explains the historic updates, the intense work that went into carefully refreshing the Yard of Bricks and the exciting new tradition that it led to.

[@donhaselhuhn8356]

Thank you Doug for doing what you do. Nobody doest it better.

[@boholde2757]

Many years ago already, I befriended an extended family who’s son raced Formula Fords along with myself. (Those were some fun times that I’ll always remember.) One of the family members worked for a national company who built golf courses. At one time the infield at IMS had 9 holes of an on property golf course. When they removed the golf course to build the infield road course they hired this guy’s company to remove the course. During the process, many of the original bricks were dug up and sitting around in small piles. My friend saw this and helped himself to a few. To make a long story shorter, I was given one. It’s now a prized possession sitting in a trophy case in my home. I tell people that AJ Foyt once peed on it. 😊

[@Demise90Racing]

This was super cool to see. As someone who prides myself on my knowledge of IndyCar and motorsports, there is always something cool and new to learn.

[@FOH3663]

As Indycars hit the yard of bricks at speed, ... it creates a loud, unique sound. The most pronounced location to hear it is not as user friendly as it used to be ... but pre F1 changes, the old pit seating down around Gasoline Alley ... you'd hear that "rapp rapp" as each set of tires made when hitting the bricks.

[@Alcochaser]

You can hear it up in B penthouse

[@FOH3663]

@@Alcochaser I bet you can. If there's only one can on track, I'd bet one could hear it throughout the south end. Imagine Pat Vidan being out there flagging, on the surface!

[@Alcochaser]

@@FOH3663 Has to be quiet, like on practice days, but you can definitely hear a quick brrrt squeak as the cars cross it from up there.

[@FOH3663]

@@Alcochaser Yes ... brrt ... our version of the A-10 30mm auto-cannon!

[@stevecagle2317]

Stories about the track and grounds of IMS have a lot of meaning for me. My Dad's cousin was Clarence Cagle, Tony Hulman's "fixer" in his Terre Haute companies who took control of the grounds of IMS. As a child, I remember meeting Clarence with my Dad and running into him at the track over the years. We lived on 15th & Main, during my early years, and we were always connected to the track. I have both fond and tragic memories of the Brickyard and good or bad, I will always cherish them.

[@CapnTexan]

Thank you Doug and we cannot wait to go see these on Race Day Morning, May 28!!

[@wprann]

Thank you to Doug and the whole IMS Team!! ❤️. Is it May yet? 🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏁🏆

[@DaveWrightKB9MNM]

This is cool! I grew up in Indy, dad was tech inspector from 60-64 so we spent a lot of time there. I would love to have a piece of brick to display!

[@melabshier5812]

I used to work for a company in Albion, Illinois. There used to be a brick quarry there that produced Albion Brick. Those were used to help pave Indy. I personally saw some Albion Bricks in the yard of bricks when I was there for the 100th race. I hope some were reused and are still part of the yard of bricks. The quarry itself is no longer. As they hit a spring and the quarry filled with water. So, it is a small pond/lake now.

[@ryanmillerick320]

Very cool to know that that the most famous start/finish line in all of racing consists of 576 bricks across a 50' x 3' span!

[@OO-by2jl]

Years ago they had antique car shows at the track. I was a kid and took a screwdriver out of my dad's tool box and tried digging a brick out of the start finish line. I never got it out. Good thing probably I suspect I'd been in a lot of trouble

[@mjgallagher8367]

Great stuff as usual Doug..... shout-out to Bud Tucker as well....T2 is simply not the same w/o your big smile.... don't be a stranger!!

[@Astro_Gardener]

Very interesting, hope to visit next April.

[@michaelhogg324]

I wonder what is in AJs brick

[@spyboylfn]

Kevin Coogan's career.

[@bennyfactor]

Looks magnificent!

[@saltybildo9448]

Looked for bricks in the creek at lot 3 grass was a cool way to beat the heat sittin in a lawn chair in the creek with my cooler watchin the carp swim by . Dont wrry i never left a beer can in the creek . I was a legend in 2010 sitting in the creek was my last and 30th year at the 500 i miss yall un Florida now

[@andrewmiller6780]

Is it weird that I think more about the NASCAR Cup Series and the Brickyard 400 oval crown jule race stock car racing over IndyCars open wheel racing I don’t know ever since 1994 the oval race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been a staple for NASCAR I can’t wait for it to be back this year. I remember Brad Keselowskis win with Ford and Penske back in 2018 feels like yesterday I am a country boy that prefers NASCAR over IndyCar and Formula One something special about the bricks 🧱 can’t wait for the Brickyard Crown Jule Race to be back on the oval this year on the NASCAR Cup Series racing schedule later this year, Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Rebel Nation, Lets Go Racing Boys!

[@1dashcamboatsandcars]

Great video 💋🧱

[@Huckle15]

Awesome! I have always been curious how the yard of bricks is preserved and kept level with the track pavement.

[@WilliamDraper-ym3nv]

Good job.

[@terridee9637]

I’ve kissed those bricks!!!!!

[@marknicholson2718]

Cool ❤️

[@JohnDeereA219]

I'm guessing it was at least above freezing when Helio kissed his brick?

[@sweeeeeeeeet_1694]

Yo can y’all do a video about the quarter midget race or as it’s called now the NASCAR Youth Series?

[@EZtheGreat1]

275?

[@ymcairedellbball]

Kissed those bricks two weeks ago.

[@NCMCPlantier]

But he cleaned off all the kisses 😢😆

[@BS84FV]

Secrets unrevealed? It sounded like the little kid teeth the tooth fairy recycles into spray paint cans to me. See what you did by leaving it to the internet to speculate?

[@coletrickle-km7cl]

C'mon Doug don't leave us hanging! You jingle a.j. foyts brick but don't tell us what's inside the brick? What's inside the brick? 1 of A.j.'s winning 💍 rings?

[@iRacerUSAF45]

IMS and PENSKE just screwed all iRACING FANS by yanking license from platform. Why Roger? Greed?

[@terridee9637]

What about Nascar bricks??

[@precesionnoreaster1507]

I hate to be this guy but I got 0 respect for nascar at the brick yard with their burnouts on the ancient bricks

[@MidnightMoon2267]

@@precesionnoreaster1507 Jeff Gordon should at least have one. He has 5 Brickyard 400 wins in the track. Also the tradition of kissing the bricks was done first by Dale Jarrett after winning the 1996 Brickyard 400.

[@terridee9637]

@@MidnightMoon2267 Dale Jarrett was my first favorite Nascar Driver!!!

[@reelreeler8778]

umm....no

[@v12tommy]

Nascar drivers get a Stirling silver brick every year when they win. It is on top of the trophy. I believe the team owner gets one too, although I don't follow the taxi cabs, so not sure on that one.