The first Indy 500 in addition to being a very historical event, also was a very interesting one.  The following are a few unique and sometimes little known facts concerning the 1911 Indianapolis 500.  In the image to the left, Fred Belcher in the No. 15 Knox makes a pit stop during the race.

• The race winning No. 32 Marmon "Wasp" was the only single-seat car in the race.
• Fred Belcher and his team's consumption of milk during the first Indianapolis 500 may have been the first use of that now-ceremonial beverage at the Indianapolis 500.
• Louis Disbrow, driver of the No. 5 Pope-Hartford, drove with a lucky raccoon's foot on the dash of his car.
• Fred Fox, who drove the No. 6 Pope-Hartford, had a prosthetic leg.
• The use of a rear-view mirror on the No. 32 Marmon is believed to be the first ever use of that device.
• Ralph Mulford, who finished second in the No. 33 Lozier, liked to carry a bag of gumdrops with him as he drove.
• Race winner Ray Harroun originally was trained as a dental technician, and had retired from racing prior to coming out of retirement for the 1911 Indianapolis 500.
• Some of the drivers like David Bruce-Brown used masks over their heads to protect their faces from oil, dirt, and smoke during the race.
• Fred Belcher in the No. 15 Knox drove the fastest laps of the race.
• Ray Harroun drove with a hot water bottle in the seat of his No. 32 Marmon.
• The 1911 Indianapolis 500 was the first time a "pace car" had ever been used to start an automobile race.
• Eddie Rickenbacker, who later owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1927-1945, was one of the drivers of the No. 30 Firestone-Columbus car during the 1911 Indianapolis 500.