Paul Nutter, age 11, of North Suburban, I11., for his question:

WHEN WAS THE FIRST RACE TRACK USED?

Man has a competitive nature. For as long as there have been man and time, man has displayed a talent for wanting to compete  to get to the destination first, or better the other fellow by being faster.

First there were foot races. And then came racing on horseback, with motor racing coming not too far behind.

First recorded racing was found to be in ancient Hattusas in Asia Minor about 1500 B.C. Horses were trained for military purposes. Speed and endurance were found to be the two most important qualities in a horse, and it wasn't long until the art of pitting one against another was developed.

Chariot racing was a tremendously popular activity in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Light, two wheeled vehicles were usually drawn by two horses and driven from a standing position.

Men mounted on horses was a competitive event back when the Olympiad was held in 644 B.C.

Horse racing has grown through the years in popularity. It is now one of the greatest spectator sports in the world. One of the most important races is held in England on a grass covered course called Ascot. It is in the shape of a rounded triangle with the first part downhill and the last half mile uphill.

Motor racing became popular almost as soon as the automobile was invented. The auto industry was booming in France and Germany by 1895, and that was the year the first motor race was held  a dash from Paris to Bordeaux, France. The cars in that epic event averaged 15 miles per hour.

There was motorcycle racing at Daytona Beach in Florida as early as 1902.

Early auto racing in the United States stressed the need not only of speed but also safety and reliability. The world famous track at Indianapolis, Ind., was used as a proving ground in races since early in this century.

Indianapolis staged its first 500 mile race in 1911, the year the two and a half mile oval was paved with bricks. Winner of that first race, averaging 74.59 miles per hour, was Ray Harroun.

Today the cars at Indianapolis are reaching speeds close to 200 miles per hour. It's all part of man's nature to want to get to the destination first.