From the roar of the engines and cheers of the crowd, to the legendary drivers and track lore, down to the special bond between the city of Indianapolis and racing fans around the world, there is much to ignite the imagination of poets and creators.

In April, we invited poets everywhere to submit an original poem inspired by the 100th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The contest revived a tradition from the 1920s, when a poem was included in the race day program. It was an initiative of the Arts, Culture & Youth Committee of the 100th Running Host Committee. The purpose of the Arts, Culture & Youth Committee is to create cultural connections between the race and the community, promoting conversation and education around the 100th running.