Carl Fisher’s Participation in Road and Racetrack Building

Carl Fisher was an American entrepreneur who developed roadways, racetracks and resorts. He was born in Greensburg, Indianapolis on January 12, 1874. He worked in a local grocery store at 12 years old. In a few years, Fisher owned a bicycle shop, and eventually a car dealership.

In 1904, Fisher opened his Prest-O-Light company to sell headlights to car manufacturers in the US. He sold the company in 1913 for $9 million to build a race track and an automobile testing ground.

Soon, Fisher owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which held its first race on August 19, 1909. Because of an accident that killed six people on his race track, Fisher paved the track with bricks, which was estimated to be 3.2 million pieces.

Fisher hosted the first International Sweepstakes race on May 30, 1911. The race was later on known as Indianapolis 500, which eventually became an annual event in the US.

Fisher was also linked to the construction of the Lincoln Highway. He also helped develop Miami Beach into a vacation resort that it is known today.