The Indianapolis 500 is, in the words of the famous Italian writer Alessandro Baricco, truly a “legend”. It has become stuff that dreams are made of for generations of Americans and Italians alike, for more than 100 years, thanks to our common passion for cars and races.

The Indy 500 is a tradition and, indeed, a symbol: strongly grounded in reality, it is a reflection of America that in many ways testifies to the robust and long-lasting friendship and collaboration between Italy and the U.S. Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the eponymous automotive company, is said to have been inspired by the true story of Ralph De Palma — the first Italian to win the race in 1915. A century has gone by, and the connection is still strong.