Looking Back at the Very First Brickyard 400

AJ Foyt, one of the most famous names in the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, suited up for the inaugural Brickyard 400. He finished 30 th . (Photo by IMS.)

Polesitter Rick Mast (right) leads Dale Earnhardt (left) and the rest of the field into the first turn on Lap 1 of the inaugural Brickyard 400. Race winner Jeff Gordon started third. (Photo by IMS.)

Jeff Gordon won the Brickyard in 1994, 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2014. His five wins tie him with Formula One legend Michael Schumacher for most career wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo by IMS.)

Jeff Gordon with his hardware after a hard-fought victory in the inaugural Brickyard 400. and his brick pose in the winner’s circle. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

Along with his trophy, Jeff Gordon also received a strip of “bricks”. Whether the strip of bricks was ever handed out again is a mystery. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images.)

The PPG Brickyard 400 was first awarded to Jeff Gordon in 1994. Each year, the name of the race winner is etched into a brick placed at the base of the award. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images.)