The 500 souvenir program for 2024 is better than the programs of the past few years. First, the cover is a huge improvement over 2023. The solid black cover is a low bar for comparison, but renderings of winning cars from milestone years ending in 4 is an appropriate way to showcase this year’s event. The cost is $20.

I like that the cover says “Indianapolis 500” rather than the “Indy 500” which has infected much of IMS branding of late.

All the things you expect are there- the entry list, driver profiles, and records of all the past 500s.

The program features a moving tribute to Gil de Ferran by Curt Cavin, a story about the solar eclipse event, and a brief article about the new museum.

One item I miss is the Order of the Day schedule with the times of each part of the opening ceremonies. I feel that it sets up Race Day having it in the program. Please bring it back.

In the center is a tear out page with nine perforated cards. Six feature winners from 100, 70, 60, 50, 40, and 30 years ago. The Bill Vukovich card is going in a special holder in a certain blogger’s house. Maybe it is for space considerations, but there is no acknowledgement of the winners from 110, 90, 20, or 10 years ago.

The back cover displays the wreath with the 2024 race logo superimposed on it. It is a scratch n sniff page which gives off a faint aroma of magnolia.

I had felt the programs of the last few years had become dull and predictable, but the 2024 edition has a lot to offer.