Indy 500 movie to film at private racing complex?

Next year will mark the centennial of America’s most hallowed race, the Indianapolis 500 (even though, technically, the first races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway were run in 1909, they were by and large a disaster), which makes it a perfect time to release a feature film about the race and the speedway. Fortunately, such an effort is underway, and if a new private racing complex in northwest Indiana becomes reality, production of the film could start within the next few months.

With a script by Angelo Pizzo, who wrote both “Hoosiers” and “Rudy,” Justin Escue’s “500,” a film about the very first Indianapolis 500 and the men who made it possible, could begin filming in October, according to the Indianapolis Star. (via) That start date hinges on a series of real estate deals that will form the Prairie Hills Motorsport Club near Lake Village, Indiana. The club, a $170 million private race track would be built on 970 acres, would include 10 miles of track, private garages, condominiums, a hotel and a water park.

Escue said he hopes to premier the film in May.