The 1917 race was scheduled to return to 500 miles, but a dispute with the local hoteliers and the escalation of
World War I intervened. On March 23, 1917, Speedway management cancelled the 1917 Indianapolis 500, and halted racing at the facility for both 1917 and 1918. The track was offered as a landing strip and maintenance/refueling station for military aircraft traveling between
Wilbur Wright Field and
Chanute Air Force Base. It was referred to as the Speedway Aviation Repair Depot, and the
821st Aero Repair Squadron was stationed there. In addition, several experimental aircraft were tested at the grounds. At least one test pilot was fatally injured in a plane crash at the track. No racing of any kind took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1917–1918. Likewise, the
National Championship was suspended in both
1917 and
1918. There were, however,
AAA races (non-championship races) conducted during the war years at other tracks. On Memorial Day 1917, a 250-mile race was held at
Cincinnati. The Indianapolis 500 resumed after the war in
1919. ==Starting grid==