As a grand prix venue Indy doesn't have much history having only hosted two US Grand Prix. 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 American motor racing 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 while current Williams star Juan Pablo Montoya won in 2000.

The US GP has been 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.

The inaugural Indy Grand Prix was won by Michael Schumacher after championship rival Mika Hakkinen’s hopes went, literally, up in smoke. However, it was Hakkinen’s turn last year when the Finn took a brilliant victory in the penultimate race before starting his sabbatical from F1.