Indy

Indy is a common nickname for Indianapolis, the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana. The term is widely used in reference to the city itself, its metropolitan area, and activities or institutions associated with it, including sports, culture, and business.

A central association is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a historic racing venue opened in 1909. The speedway hosts the Indianapolis 500, commonly called the Indy 500, one of the most famous car races in the world and a defining event in American motorsports. The track is located in Speedway, Indiana, a suburb of the city.

The IndyCar Series is the premier United States open‑wheel racing championship, sanctioned by the IndyCar organization. It evolved from CART/Champ Car and features a mix of oval, road, and street courses, with the Indianapolis 500 as its flagship event. The series has served as a platform for major teams and drivers in North American racing.

In popular culture, "Indy" is also the nickname for Indiana Jones, the fictional archaeologist portrayed in the film series starting with Raiders of the Lost Ark. The term can appear in other contexts as well, though in many cases it is used more informally or regionally to refer to Indianapolis or Indiana-related topics.

Related terms include "Indie," short for independent, which is distinct from the geographic or event-related uses of Indy. While "Indy" can sometimes appear in casual shorthand for independent media or ventures, the most common associations remain the city of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis 500, and the IndyCar Series.