With 80,000 fans screaming, Ray Harroun beat out 40 starters to win the first Indianapolis 500 driving his No. 32 Marmon Wasp race car on May 30, 1911.
Harroun was the only racer who wasn’t driving with a riding mechanic to check the oil pressure and let him know when traffic was coming. Instead, Harroun was using his new invention, a rear view mirror.
This Sunday, drivers will fire up their engines for the 100th running of the race known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. As always it will be held on the last Sunday in May and starts just after noon. The race is sold out meaning 350,000 people will be watching the 200 laps live. Juan Pablo Montoya is the defending champion while Canadian James Hinchcliffe has the pole position to start the race.
Over the past 100 runnings, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears have each won the race four times.
Here are a look at some fascinating scenes over the past 100 runnings, starting with the first Indy 500 105 years ago.
Open this photo in gallery: Drivers Will Jones (9), Joe Jagersberger (8) and Louis Disbrow (5) race with their riding mechanics in the first Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1911. Uncredited/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: This May 30, 1911 photo provided by Indianapolis Motor Speedway, shows people arriving for the inaugural running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race. The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Cars are parked near the speedway during the inaugural running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis on May 30, 1911.
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Open this photo in gallery: Tents on the infield along pit road for the inaugural running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis on May 30, 1911.
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Open this photo in gallery: Ray Harroun driving his No. 32 Marmon Wasp race car to victory in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1911. The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon poses for photos with the 1911 winning car of Ray Harroun at the yard of bricks after winning the 2011 Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE
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Open this photo in gallery: Th Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the start of the 10th Indianapolis 500 auto race on May 30, 1922.
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Open this photo in gallery: In this May 30, 1939 file photo, Wilbur Shaw, center, of Indianapolis, smiles and smokes a cigarette as he reaches for the big trophy he won the Indianapolis 500-mile auto race. Shaw finished first in the 500-mile auto race with an average speed of 115.035 miles an hour. Mrs. Shaw, at right, looks proudly on, as Roscoe Turner, left, presents the trophy. Anonymous/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: In this May 18, 1940 file photo, driver Wilbur Shaw, left, Indy 500 winner in 1937 and 1939, drives his Boyle Racing Maserati after he qualified for the first row of the starting grid with a speed of 127.065 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapoolis. Shaw went on to win the Memorial Day race for his third Indianapolis 500 win. WH/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: In this May 30, 1941, file photo, smoldering ruins of infield garages are shown about an hour before the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis, Ind. Three race cars were destroyed and seven men were injured. Anonymous/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Thirty three cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway roar into the first turn as they start the Indy 500 auto race in Indianapolis on May 30, 1961. Eddie Sachs in the Dean Van Lines Special (12) is leading the pack. Anonymous/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: A.J. Foyt in the Bowes Seal Fast Special (1), has a few seconds lead on Eddie Sachs, in the Dean Van Lines Special (12) as they are negotiate a curve at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 45th running of the Indy 500 on May 30, 1961. Anonymous/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: A.J. Foyt, still wearing his goggles and victory wreath, smiles in the garage area after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind. on May 30, 1961. Anonymous/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: A.J. Foyt removes his helmet after qualifying for a second-row starting spot for the May 30 Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis, Ind. on May 16, 1964. BD/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Mario Andretti, left, and A.J. Foyt (6) race side-by-side during the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis on May 30, 1969.
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Open this photo in gallery: Driver A.J. Foyt holds up four fingers in victory lane after winning his fourth Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 29, 1977. Foyt won the Indy 500 auto race in 1961, 1964, 1967 and 1977. Anonymous/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: 1981 Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser, right, talks with 1969 winner Mario Andretti at the pit wall during practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on Monday, May 11, 1982. Unser was given a one lap penalty the day after taking the checkered flag last year for passing several cars under a yellow light and Andretti was named winner of the race. Following a lengthy appeal process Unser regained the title, his third Indy win. DLL/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Al Unser Jr., top, of Albuquerque, N.M., wins the Indianapolis 500 by less than a car length ahead of Scott Goodyear, of Canada, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 24, 1992. In a survey of the 27 living winners of the Indy 500, The Associated Press found the 1992 race won by Al Unser Jr. to be the greatest in history. Other memorable races included Little Al's loss to Emerson Fittipaldi in '89, Sam Hornish Jr.'s victory in 2006 and the second win for the late Dan Wheldon in 2011. David Boe/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: In this May 29, 1994, file photo, Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., right, celebrates with car owner Roger Penske after winning the 78th running of the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. With all the hoopla surrounding the 100th Indianapolis 500, Roger Penske has a celebration of his own going — the 50th anniversary of Team Penske. AL BEHRMAN/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Bryan Herta Autosport driver Dan Wheldon of England pours milk on himself after winning the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 29, 2011. JOHN SOMMERS II/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Tony Kanaan, of Brazil, celebrates with winners milk after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 26, 2013. Michael Conroy/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Open this photo in gallery: Open this photo in gallery: Verizon Indycar series driver James Hinchcliffe waives to the crowd moments after winning the pole during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 22, 2016. © USA Today Sports / Reuters
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