INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Keeping the Indianapolis Motor Speedway looking its best takes more than mowing grass and sweeping grandstands. It takes roughly 500 gallons of paint.

The maintenance on the 1,000-acre facility operates on a year-round painting schedule, touching up walls and surfaces after every major event, including the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. The effort is driven by a directive from speedway owner Roger Penske, who set a high standard for facility appearance after purchasing IMS between 2019 and 2020.

Zach Horrell, director of digital marketing at the Speedway, said the scale of the operation often surprises people.

“IMS is kind of like a c...