Sport in Indiana Trivia Quiz

Answer: The race is 500 miles long

The Indy 500 takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway over the Memorial Day weekend, in front of crowds of around 300,000. The track is 2.5 miles long, and drivers complete 200 laps, for a grand total of 500 miles. Among the race's traditions is the presentation of a bottle of milk to the winner.

Answer: Georgetown

Bob Knight was head coach at Army before arriving in Bloomington in 1971. In 1975-76, they went through the entire season undefeated and beat Michigan in the title match. Further championships arrived in 1981 (against North Carolina) and 1987 (vs. Syracuse).

In 2000, he was controversially sacked following a number of disciplinary issues, taking over the head coaching position at Texas Tech the following year.

Answer: Wayne Gretzky

The WHA was a short-lived league set up as a rival to the NHL between 1972 and 1979. The Indianapolis Racers joined the league in 1974, playing home games at Market Square Arena, and were one of the better supported franchises over the next four seasons. Wayne Gretzky was just 17 when the Racers signed him, but he didn't stay long before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers.

The Racers folded in December 1978, shortly before the collapse of the WHA.

Answer: Fort Wayne

The Fort Wayne Pistons were originally founded in 1941 and were members of the National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America before becoming a founder member of the NBA in 1949. They reached the finals in 1955, losing to the Syracuse Nationals. In 1957, the team's owners decided they needed a bigger market to play in, and the team was relocated to Detroit.

Answer: Tony Dungy

The Colts were formed in Baltimore in 1953 where they won NFL titles in 1958 and '59 as well as Super Bowl V in January, 1971. In March, 1984, owner Robert Irsay controversially moved the team to Indianapolis. The team struggled in Indiana before the selection of quarterback Peyton Manning as top pick in the 1998 NFL draft.

When Tony Dungy arrived as head coach in 2002, the team became regular play-off contenders. At Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Colts recovered from an early 6-14 deficit to defeat the Bears 29-17.

Answer: Boilermakers

Purdue University was founded in 1869 by local industrialist John Purdue. The school became members of the Big Ten Conference in 1896, and has been called the "Cradle of Quarterbacks" due to the number of NFL passers who played college ball there. The Boilermakers nickname dates back to newspaper reports of their football games in the late 19th century; their mascot is a railway locomotive.

Answer: Golf

Frank Urban Zoeller, commonly known as "Fuzzy", was born in New Albany in 1951. Turning pro in 1973, he won his first major at the 1979 Masters, when he defeated Ed Sneed and Tom Watson in a play-off. In 1984, he won his second major, again in a play-off, when he defeated Greg Norman at the US Open.

Answer: Women's basketball

Notre Dame was founded in South Bend in 1842. Their sports teams have been members of various conferences through the years, although their American football team have traditionally remained independent.
Muffet McGraw was appointed head coach of women's basketball in 1987 and led her charges to national titles in 2011 (vs. Purdue) and 2018 (vs. Mississippi State). She was voted AP Coach of the Year in 2001, '13, '14 and '18.

Answer: Los Angeles Lakers

The Indiana Pacers, based in Indianapolis, were formed in 1967 as founder members of the American Basketball Association, where they won three titles, in 1972, '74 and '75. They were one of four ABA teams absorbed into the NBA in 1976, but found life in the more established league much tougher.

The arrival of Larry Brown as head coach in 1993 turned them into contenders, and his successor, Larry Bird, led them to the 2000 NBA Finals. There, a Shaquille O'Neal-led Lakers prevailed by four game to two.

Answer: Michigan State

Larry Bird was born in West Baden Springs in 1956, and brought up in nearby French Lick. He attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute, and led the Sycamores all the way to the 1979 championship game. Magic Johnson scored 24 points for Michigan State as they prevailed 75-64 in Salt Lake City. Bird turned pro with the Celtics shortly afterwards, and, in a 13-year career in Boston, helped them to three NBA titles.