Snake Pit gallery: Flesh, mud and lots of beer

Dawn Mitchell
dawn.mitchell@indystar.com
Randy Maddox, Greenwood, enjoys his bachelor party in the infield at IMS during practice in 1981. He was married the following day.
Randy Maddox, Greenwood, enjoys his bachelor party in the infield at IMS during practice in 1981. He was married the following day.
Tim Halcomb/Indianapolis News
A naked man is thrown up in a blanket-toss in the snakepit of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as rain interrupted qualification runs in 1974.
A naked man is thrown up in a blanket-toss in the snakepit of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as rain interrupted qualification runs in 1974.
AP
Mudslide races in the snakepit in 1985. The gentleman on the left appears to be the victor.
Mudslide races in the snakepit in 1985. The gentleman on the left appears to be the victor.
Rich Miller/Indianapolis News
Can do: Snakepit in 1987
Can do: Snakepit in 1987
Rich Miller/Indianapolis News
When you’re in the snakepit, you make do with what you have. Dan Reicken sports an infield melon helmet to keep cool in 1984.
When you’re in the snakepit, you make do with what you have. Dan Reicken sports an infield melon helmet to keep cool in 1984.
Greg Griffo/IndyStar
Blanket-tossing was one of many activities employed by racing fans in the snakepit in 1973.
Blanket-tossing was one of many activities employed by racing fans in the snakepit in 1973.
Bill Clouse/IndyStar
These guys from Detroit had just about enough fun in the snakepit in 1978.
These guys from Detroit had just about enough fun in the snakepit in 1978.
Jeff Atteberry/IndyStar
It was good while it lasted: A youthful snakepit fan empties his beer onto the ground as two Indiana state police troopers watch.
It was good while it lasted: A youthful snakepit fan empties his beer onto the ground as two Indiana state police troopers watch.
Bill Clouse/Indianapolis Star
State police patrol the snakepit in 1974.
State police patrol the snakepit in 1974.
Frank Fisse/IndyStar
Truckpulls in the infield: After a downpour in 1978, four wheelers hitched up for truck-pulling contests in the mud. The State Police moved into and shut it down before a chain broke or a truck got out of control.
Truckpulls in the infield: After a downpour in 1978, four wheelers hitched up for truck-pulling contests in the mud. The State Police moved into and shut it down before a chain broke or a truck got out of control.
Frank Fisse/IndyStar
Oblivious to racers speeding by the track, one snake pit fan was out of it long before qualifying ended.  May 12, 1986.
Oblivious to racers speeding by the track, one snake pit fan was out of it long before qualifying ended. May 12, 1986.
Charlie Nye/Indianapolis News
SLOPPY SNAKE PIT MAY 25, 1986 and the Indy 500 Race was postponed and run May 31, 1986.  This unidentified couple into mud wrestling.
SLOPPY SNAKE PIT MAY 25, 1986 and the Indy 500 Race was postponed and run May 31, 1986. This unidentified couple into mud wrestling.
PATTY ESPICH /THE INDIANAPOLIS N
Beer cans and other debris away in snake pit puddle during the 1978 Indianapolis 500.
Beer cans and other debris away in snake pit puddle during the 1978 Indianapolis 500.
Jeff Atteberry/The Star
Warm sunny weather gave patrons of the "snake pit" an opportunity to sun themselves and occasionally watch the race.  May 27, 1974.
Warm sunny weather gave patrons of the "snake pit" an opportunity to sun themselves and occasionally watch the race. May 27, 1974.
Greg Griffo Photo
Mud wrestling was only one of many ways to relieve the boredom on a cool and rainy day in the Snake Pit.  File photo May 26, 1986
Mud wrestling was only one of many ways to relieve the boredom on a cool and rainy day in the Snake Pit. File photo May 26, 1986
File
Fans actually do watch the race from the snake pit.   May 31, 1982
Fans actually do watch the race from the snake pit. May 31, 1982
Joe Young Photo
Police patrol the snake pit.  May 29, 1972.
Police patrol the snake pit. May 29, 1972.
Frank Fisse Photo
Marion County Sheriff's mounted patrol watches the "snake pit" action.  May 27, 1975
Marion County Sheriff's mounted patrol watches the "snake pit" action. May 27, 1975
George Tilford
RACE DAY RAINOUT--Snake pit fans in the mud.  Couple is unidentified.
RACE DAY RAINOUT--Snake pit fans in the mud. Couple is unidentified.
PATTY ESPICH /THE INDIANAPOLIS N
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980,
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980,
From The Files Of Photographer Frank Espich.
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Frank Espich
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
From The Files Of Photographer Frank Espich.
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Submitted Photos
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Frank Espich
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Frank Espich
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Frank Espich
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Frank Espich
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Frank Espich
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Frank Espich
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Frank Espich
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs from the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Photographs From The Snake Pit At The Indianapolis 500, 1979-1980
Messages adorn the back of a party wagon parked on the infield at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Indianapolis 500 about 1986. While most fans in the stands watched the action on the track, the infamous Snake Pit in the infield was a spectacle itself -- a congregation of rowdy, raucous and raunchy race-goers.
Messages adorn the back of a party wagon parked on the infield at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Indianapolis 500 about 1986. While most fans in the stands watched the action on the track, the infamous Snake Pit in the infield was a spectacle itself -- a congregation of rowdy, raucous and raunchy race-goers.
Charlie Nye/Indianapolis News
Fun in the infield in the 70s
Fun in the infield in the 70s
Submitted Photos
No, he's not wearing black shorts.
No, he's not wearing black shorts.
Submitted Photos