From IMS:
| Tony Kanaan and Juan Pablo Montoya Voted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Indianapolis 500 Winners to be Inducted at Ceremony on May 23 |
| The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum announced today the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Indianapolis 500 winning drivers Tony Kanaan and Juan Pablo Montoya. The inductees will be formally celebrated at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner supported by The National Bank of Indianapolis, held on Thursday, May 23, at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. The two were chosen from a ballot of 14 nominees by a national panel of more than 150 journalists, participants, and historians. This was the first year Kanaan was eligible for the Hall of Fame. Tony Kanaan amassed an impressive career in open-wheel racing. In 2004, driving for Andretti Green Racing, Kanaan impressively completed all 3,305 possible laps, becoming the first IndyCar driver in modern history to complete every lap of every race in a season. This led Kanaan to secure the 2004 season championship. However, the Indianapolis 500 was a race that had eluded him until 2013. On Lap 197, Kanaan passed Hunter-Reay for the lead on a restart. The race finished under caution, but Kanaan won at an average speed of 187.433 miles per hour, breaking the record set by Arie Luyendyk in the 1990 race. Juan Pablo Montoya found success in open-wheel, sports car, and stock car racing, but made a name for himself at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he became the first rookie winner of the 2000 Indianapolis 500 since Graham Hill in 1966. Montoya led 167 of the 200 laps to take the checkered flag and earned the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. In 2015, Montoya claimed his second Indianapolis 500 victory after battling Will Power and Scott Dixon in the final laps. Montoya competed in Formula 1 racing, including the United States Grand Prix, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He competed in the Brickyard 400 from 2007-2014, with his highest finish being second in 2007. In addition to honoring the inductees, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum will celebrate Mark Miles, CEO and President of Penske Entertainment, for his contributions to the racing industry, support of the Museum, and as a leader in the community. Veteran IndyCar driver and current NBC Sports analyst James Hinchcliffe will return as emcee for the event, with special guests scheduled throughout the evening. All proceeds benefit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, a 501c3 non-profit organization that aims to celebrate the cultural and historical significance of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through storytelling and educational programs. Pricing is $2,000 for a table of eight and $250 for individual tickets. Museum members will receive a discount on individual and table tickets. A separate email with discount information will be sent directly to Museum members. Sponsorship opportunities are available; contact Andrew Weller at aweller@brickyard.com. Image Credits: Images courtesy of IMS Photo |
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 