For over 100 years, a staple of the Indianapolis Memorial Day holiday is the running of the Indianapolis 500.  Spectators from all over the world flock to the Midwest to witness the annual event.  For years the speedway utilized a paint system to protect the aging structure from corrosion.  In 1991 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) began replacing sections of the track with hot dipped galvanized steel.  This test in 1991 led to an annual undertaking of breaking down existing sections, blasting them clean, then applying a hot dipped galvanized coating.  This process continued every year through the early turn of this century.  When faced with a construction project to celebrate the 100th running of the race, hot dip galvanizing was seen as the only choice for corrosion protection.   Project 100 was the IMS answer to provide race fans with a new plaza and main entrance, enhancing the beauty of the historical landmark in Indianapolis.  The turn one area was to be fully broken down and improved to provide a face lift to the facility and improve the fan experience.

When the IMS turned away from paint as their main source of corrosion protection they embraced a coating that would blend and create a consistent aesthetic look that would stand the test of time.  Additionally the cost to constantly repaint the aging structure was staggering.  The low initial cost and 75 year time to first maintenance anchored hot dipped galvanizing as the most effective alternative.  Their goal is to have the entire stadium utilize hot dip galvanizing for all of the speedways corrosion protection.   A galvanized finish enables the stadium to endure the harsh Midwest winters maintaining its ability to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors each spring and summer.

From the majestic tulip steel columns, to the countless fan seating areas, the gleam of the hot-dip galvanized coating welcomes race fans as they enter the hundred year old track.  No longer is corrosion and coating maintenance a concern for the IMS.  As they continue to update their entire facility, with projects similar to Project 100, IMS remains a stalwart in their utilization of hot dip galvanizing.