Indy 500 off to an early start in 2011

The Indianapolis 500 has announced a start time for the race’s 100th anniversary running this spring. The 33 drivers are scheduled to take the green flag at noon CDT on May 29. The race has started at 1 p.m. since 2006. The inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 started at 10 a.m. Indianapolis Motor Speedway says that was so the race could finish by dinner time. The race started at 10 a.m. through 1941. Organizers switched to an 11 a.m. start for 1946 after a four-year interruption for World War II. The race started at 11 a.m. through 2004, then switched to noon in 2005 and 1 p.m. in 2006.

– Associated Press