Blood and Smoke - by Charles Leerhsen (Paperback)

The Indy 500: Blood and Smoke is a gripping and entertaining history of the first Indianapolis 500 race, held in 1911.

The book provides a detailed account of the race, its participants, and the controversies surrounding it.

With alternating tales of horrifying crashes and the schemes of Carl Fisher, who promoted the Indianapolis Speedway as a venue for airplane races, this is a ripping good yarn of America in the early 20th century.

The author, Charles Leerhsen, draws from contemporary articles, histories, and interviews to pull readers into a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the building of the Speedway and the first race.

This book has broad appeal, with laugh-out-loud stories and characters who would be unbelievable if they turned up in fiction.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of motorsports or American culture in the early 20th century.