WASHINGTON, May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:
SUNDAY, MAY 27: INDIANAPOLIS 500
Profile America -- Excitement has been building during the month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for today's 91st running of the Indianapolis 500. Practice started over two weeks ago, followed by qualifying runs, all watched intently by growing numbers of fans. Race day crowds make the 500 the largest single-day sporting event in the world. The first Indy 500 was held in 1911, when horses outnumbered cars by more than 30-to-1. But automobile racing had already captured the public's imagination. That first race was won by Ray Harroun in a Marmon, at an average speed of 74 miles an hour. Some 200,000 cars were sold in 1911 -- today, that number of cars and light trucks is sold in about four days.
You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at http://www.census.gov.
Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments ready to air on a monthly CD or on Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button). For further information, contact Rick Reed at +1-301-763- 2812, fax at +1-301-457-3670, or e-mail at rreed(At)census.gov.