Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Setting the Pace: IMS Museum Brings Out Pace Cars of the Past

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Old Indianapolis 500 pace cars are fun to see. Most vintage car shows will have a replica of at least one from a random year. The IMS Museum currently has eight pace cars on display in an exhibit called Setting the Pace.

It is not a profound exhibit, nor does it break new ground. It was fun to recall the races the cars on the floor led to the green flag. At the same time, the memories were bittersweet when I thought of how all three major car companies i9n the United States would rotate each year to provide the official pace car.

I don’t see a return to that practice anytime soon, given Chevrolet’ ties to Roger Penske and the company’s involvement in the IndyCar series.

The cars in the display:

2025 Corvette

1996 Dodge Viper

1977 Oldsmobile

1967 Mercury

The 1977 Olds is behind the Mercury

1991 Dodge Viper

1915 Packard (cover photo)

1971 Dodge Charger

1997 Monte Carlo (Brickyard 400)

The 1967 pace car was driven by 1957 winner Sam Hanks. Carl Fisher drover the Packard.

The 1996 Dodge Viper is my favorite of this group. My favorite pace car of all time is the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, followed closely by the 1961 gold Ford Thunderbird.

The Museum at Eight Months

Monday was my first visit to the museum since May, and there were some minor changes. The Starting Line Experience is the same, and still a thrilling thing to witness.

From Tuesday: https://thepitwindow.blog/2025/12/09/now-stay-tuned-ims-museum-honors-broadcasters/

The cars in the Winners’ Gallery have been rearranged, and I think some cars moved downstairs and others up to the main floor. As I said after my initial visit, it is a minor quibble as to which car belongs where in which gallery. There are only three sacred cars which must stay in the main section at all times- the Boyle Maserati, the Fuel Injection special, and the Rislone Special.

The Maserati has assumed a rightful spot alone at the entry to the main gallery. This is the greatest car in Indianapolis 500 history, with top five performances, including two victories, from 1939 through the end of the 1940s.

While I never saw the Fuel Injection Special race, the car driven by Bill Vukovich won the first race I listened to on the radio in 1953, and won again the following year.

It is a shame that this car cannot take a lap on race morning.

One other car of note is the Miller Special of 1928. The Miller cars of the lat 1920s and early 1930s were some of the most beautiful cars ever to run at 16th and Georgetown. Louis Meyer drove this gorgeous machine to victory for his first of three 500 wins.

Thanks for following along on my two part museum excursion. There is some IndyCar news to talk about, which I will get to in a day or two,

USAC Midget, Sprint Car Dates Announced

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IMS. I’m glad the sprint cars are returning. Great show last year.

Action Returns to The Dirt Track at IMS in 2026 
 
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025) – The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host two events in 2026. One of the most prestigious events in dirt racing – the BC39 Presented by Avanti Windows & Doors – returns for its eighth running on June 30-July 1. Later that month, the United States Auto Club (USAC) AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship will compete in a points race for the second time at IMS when the opening night of USAC NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week Presented by K&N takes place July 23.
“USAC Midget and Sprint Cars always deliver edge-of-your-seat excitement and wheel-to-wheel action on The Dirt Track at IMS,” INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “These two events are unforgettable experiences for fans and competitors alike.”
The USAC Midgets will once again take center stage as drivers race for victory on the 1/5th-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of IMS during the BC39 Presented by Avanti Windows & Doors.
Action among the top Midget racers in the country will open Tuesday, June 30, with the 39-lap feature race set for Wednesday night, July 1. The event honors the memory of Bryan Clauson, a three-time Indianapolis 500 starter and four-time USAC national driving champion.
Cannon McIntosh became the first two-time winner of the BC39 Presented by Avanti Windows & Doors when he repeated as the winner of the 39-lap feature in 2025. He joined a list of BC39 winners that includes NASCAR Cup Series champion and Brickyard 400 presented by PPG winner Kyle Larson and short-track stars Justin Grant, Buddy Kofoid, Zeb Wise and Brady Bacon.
The USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship again will be featured during the 39th annual Indiana Sprint Week opener Thursday evening, July 23, before Brickyard Weekend opens on the 2.5-mile IMS oval for the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The event promises a unique spectacle, as the 900-horsepower USAC Sprint Cars take to the dirt track inside Turn 3 of the famous IMS oval.
Grant, who won the BC39 in 2023, captured the opening race of USAC NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week Presented by Honest Abe Roofing in 2025.
USAC Sprint Cars made their debut at The Dirt Track at IMS in September 2024 in a special invitational event won by C.J. Leary of Greenfield, Indiana.
USAC’s Indiana Sprint Week, a cornerstone of sprint car racing in the Hoosier State since 1988, has captivated fans for decades with its thrilling action and rich legacy.
The 2026 Indiana Sprint Week schedule consists of eight events at eight different racetracks across a 10-night span between July 23-Aug. 1.
Fans can register at IMS.com to receive ticket information for the 2026 BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors and the 2026 USAC Indiana Sprint Week event. 

“Now Stay Tuned”- IMS Museum Honors Broadcasters

thepitwindowLeave a comment

As a kid growing up in Indiana, May 30 meant turning on the radio and listening to the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. I was unaware at the time that the 1953 race, the first one that I listened to, was the first flag to flag coverage from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway network.

“Now Stay Tuned” presents the story of broadcasting the race is on display in the exhibit gallery at the IMS Museum. I found the display fascinating. I learned much about the pre-IMS network days, which date back to 1922, the first year that there was radio coverage of the event. Local station WOH carried the race, and in 1923, station WLK added coverage.

In 1929 WFBM radio in Indianapolis covered the entire race. the entire race. Sportscaster Graham McNamee was the lead announcer from 1928-1931.

Oddly there was no radio coverage in 1932, as the speedway felt the radio station weren’t contributing their fair share of compensation. There was a national conflict between radio stations and newspapers at the time, and the newspapers who covered the race probably complained as well.

From 1934 to 1950 the mutual Broadcasting network went live for the start of the race, then throughout the afternoon had periodic updates before returning to cover the finish. A track reporter was stationed in turns 1 and 2, and another reported was in turns 3 and 4. Bill Slater anchored the broadcasts. In 1951 Mutual dropped out when their sponsor decided to spend their dollars elsewhere.

Local station WIBC took over the broadcasts. Sid Collins, who had been a turn reporter for Mutual in 1948 and co-anchored the race in 1950, became the lead announcer. The format for1951 and 1952 was the same as the mutual program, but in 1953 the full race coverage that we know today began.

Sid Collins deserves a permanent spot in the museum.

Collins was the lead announcer through the 1976 race. He died in early May of 1977. Paul Page assumed the anchor role.

Radio board used in the early days of IMS Radio Network

One of my favorite parts of the exhibit was the old-fashioned radio, similar to the one on which I heard that first broadcast. It is one of two interactive components in the display.

The set has three buttons. The first button plays “The 500 Song.”

Button number two presents Sid Collins’ sign off of the 1976 race, his final one. As he closed the broadcast of each 500, Collins had an inspirational quote, which he applied to the race winner, then he bade his audience farewell with the promise to meet again the following May. This recording gave me goosebumps.

The third button takes the listener to the next May where turn 3 reporter Jim Shelton gives a touching tribute to Collins, asking for a moment of silence. More goosebumps were detected.

The other interactive section is a broadcast booth where visitors can call a segment of one of four races of their choosing. The call is recorded and can be played back. I chose the finish to the 2011 race. Don’t look for it on Sports Center.

While radio makes up the bulk of the exhibit, television also has a decent share of the area. The first broadcast was in 1949 as WFBM (now WRTV channel 6) launched the first television station in Indianapolis. The 500 was their first program. Coverage had three cameras on the front stretch.

I have heard stories about track president Wilbur Shaw not wanting television at all, and that he had cameras moved from other areas. After the television coverage of the rain shortened 1950 race, Tony Hulman decided no more TV, The ban lasted 20 years until ABC began showing a two hour tape delayed showing in prime time in 1971.

From 1964-1970, the race was shown on closed circuit television in theaters around the country. Charlie Brockman anchored the closed circuit telecasts.

ABC began its live broadcasts in 1986, but they had to wait a week to present the twice rained out event.

The exhibit is a great trip down memory Lane for anyone who began following the race in the 50s, and it is very educational for younger fans. I will have more photos from the exhibit on The Pit Window Facebook page in a day or two.

IMS To Release Miniseries Documenting Historic Repave 

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IMS:

 ‘Behind the Bricks’ Special To Air Dec. 8-11

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025) – Indianapolis Motor Speedway captivated the racing world on social media Sept. 23 with a series of viral posts highlighting a historic repave project that uncovered the Speedway’s iconic brick racing surface and the original crushed stone-and-tar track surface.
Now, IMS is releasing a four-part miniseries documenting the project as part of its flagship “Behind the Bricks” program beginning Monday, Dec. 8. A new episode will be released daily through Thursday, Dec. 11. A full-length documentary with additional interviews and footage will be released Friday, Dec. 12. Each episode can be seen on IMS social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube.
Fittingly, the release coincides with the time when the original brick paving project was completed in 1909.
A trailer teasing the upcoming series was released today on IMS social media channels.
The series features stunning footage not just of the repave project but the uncovering of the brick racing surface and the jaw-dropping discovery of the crushed stone-and-tar surface that takes fans back to the beginning of the Racing Capital of the World in 1909. It includes interviews with project experts and former IMS Historian Donald Davidson.
“It’s not often that we get to really see the full history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of our eyes,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “What started as a project to fix a bump in Turn 2 turned into a historic, and at times, overwhelming exploration that uncovered aspects of his racetrack that have not seen the light of day, literally, in over 116 years. I can’t wait for our fans to see it all unfold on ‘Behind the Bricks.’”
IMS was originally paved in spring 1909 with a surface consisting of crushed stone and tar. Track conditions proved to be treacherous that summer, and in fall 1909 the surface was paved with 3.2 million bricks, giving it the nickname “The Brickyard.” The paving project was completed in early December, and the track surface was dedicated by future United States Vice President, then-Indiana Gov. Thomas Marshall on Dec. 17.
One of the endearing traits of IMS has been the brick surface tucked underneath the modern-day asphalt racing surface. In 1937, all four turns of the 2.5-mile oval were paved before that year’s Indianapolis 500, officially covering the bricks that were uncovered in 2025. Additional track paving projects took place in 1938, 1939, 1961, 1976, 1988, 1995 and 2004, placing the brick surface approximately 7 inches below the current racing surface.
However, the freeze and thaw of Indiana winters allowed the bricks below the surface to move and expand, presenting as bumps in the current racing surface at the exit of Turn 2. IMS grinded the bumps to keep the track surface smooth for years, but a lasting solution was needed. So, in September, IMS milled the racing surface and removed bricks in the areas that were creating the problem. IMS will keep the excavated bricks for preservation.
A block of crushed stone and tar removed during the process is on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
As “Behind the Bricks” documents, a new layer of asphalt was placed in the 100-foot section of racing surface that spans the width of the track and was diamond-grinded to match the existing track surface texture. Defending Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Alex Palou and two-time race winner Takuma Sato tested the repaved surface Oct. 21. Both drivers gave the new surface positive reviews.
“It’s a little bit smoother, which I think is going to be a huge gain for the race, especially when we’re following cars,” said Palou, the four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion. “It’s great. I cannot wait to go racing.”
Tickets for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and all Month of May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are on sale now at IMS.com. 

Indy 500 Winner Palou Unveils Image on Borg-Warner Trophy

thepitwindow

Editor’s Note: I apologize for being mostly absent the past two months. I had a brief hospital stay and I have made two trips to Florida to get winter headquarters ready to go on the market. I am currently in Florida, and will head home Saturday, hopefully for a longer stay.

From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025) – 2025 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Alex Palou unveiled his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy on Nov. 19 in Indianapolis, one of the most significant honors since he earned his first Indy 500 victory May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou, driving the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, earned the first oval victory of his career and became the first Spaniard to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” He passed Marcus Ericsson on Lap 187 and never trailed thereafter, earning Chip Ganassi Racing’s sixth Indy 500 victory.
The unveiling took place at The Above Event Center at Commission Row. Located in downtown Indianapolis, it is part of the Pacers Sports & Entertainment Complex known as Bicentennial Unity Plaza. Following the unveil, Palou attended the Indiana Pacers’ game with the Borg-Warner Trophy. It was a full-circle moment as he also attended an Indiana Pacers’ playoff game following his Indy 500 win.
The bas-relief, sterling silver image of Palou is the 112th face to be affixed to the iconic trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 since 1936.
“This is one of those days that I knew I wanted to be part of at some point in my career,” Palou said.
“I knew it was going take a lot of work, and finally to be here and to get to see the trophy for the first time, it’s amazing.
“I know that it’s always going to be there forever, if I race one more year or if I race 50 more years. And whatever the history of INDYCAR is going to be, it’s always going to be there. So, it’s great to be part of all those amazing drivers. And, yeah, I feel that now. I want to get that face again on that trophy. Try and be part again of the history of our sport.”
Renowned sculptor Will Behrends created Palou’s image, as he has for every winner since 1990.Behrends begins his creative process by studying a series of 360-degree photos of the winner to get a baseline for sculpting. Palou then visited Behrends’ studio in Tryon, North Carolina, for an in-person session where Behrends constructed a full-scale clay model of the driver’s face.This life-size clay version is used as reference for Behrends to construct the smaller model, a piece created out of a mixture of oil-based clay. The smaller clay model is turned into a mold and cast in wax before being sent to a jeweler to be transformed into sterling silver. Behrends completes his process by polishing and buffing the sculpture before adhering it to the trophy.
“I’m honored to continue one of the greatest traditions in all of sports and unveil the latest addition to the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy at this beautiful venue,” said Michelle Collins, global director, Marketing and Public Relations, BorgWarner.
“Alex’s victory exemplifies that tenacity and constant commitment to excellence will result in success, on and off the track. On behalf of everyone at BorgWarner, congratulations to Alex and the team at Chip Ganassi Racing.”
Originally designed in 1935, the sterling silver trophy measures over 5 feet, 4-3/4 inches tall and weighs more than 110 pounds as it carries the sculpted face of every victor since 1911 and of former IMS owner Tony Hulman.
Early next year, Palou will receive his BorgWarner Championships Driver’s Trophy, also known as a “Baby Borg,” a miniature replica of the large-scale Borg-Warner Trophy.
Tickets for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and all Month of May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are on sale at IMS.com. 

Arow McLaren Signs Hunter-Reay for Fourth Indianapolis 500 Entry

thepitwindow

2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay will join Arrow McLaren Racing the 110th running of the 500. Hunter-Reay will drive car number 31.

The signing is a great one for the team, adding experience and expertise to a group just on the verge of Indy success that just a little extra boost.

The news release frorm Arrow McLaren:

“I am beyond primed and ready to make the absolute most of this partnership”- Ryan Hunter-Reay

Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2012 INDYCAR SERIES Champion, will join the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500, completing the team’s four-car lineup for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”  

Ryan joins the team with a wealth of experience and a proven championship pedigree, having made 395 INDYCAR SERIES starts over 21 seasons, earning 18 victories and 47 podium finishes. His storied open-wheel career is highlighted by success at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where he will attempt to qualify for his 18th Indy 500 in May. The veteran will be one of five active drivers competing who boast an INDYCAR SERIES Championship and an Indy 500 victory alongside Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou and Will Power.

Arrow McLaren continues its tradition of running an additional distinguished driver in the iconic 500-mile race. In past years, two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso (2017, 2020), two-time Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya (2021, 2022), 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan (2023) and two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson (2024, 2025) have all raced in papaya in the Indy 500 as one-off entries for the team. Ryan will join Arrow McLaren’s full-time lineup of Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard at the IMS during the Month of May in 2026.

Palou To Unveil Image on Borg-Warner Trophy Nov. 19 in Indianapolis

thepitwindow

From IMS:

 Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, winner of the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, will unveil his likeness on the coveted Borg-Warner Trophy on Wednesday, Nov. 19 in downtown Indianapolis.
The event takes place from 4-6 p.m. ET at The Above Event Center at Commission Row, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. in Indianapolis. The trophy unveiling is scheduled for approximately 5:15 p.m.
Palou, Global Director of Marketing and Public Relations for BorgWarner Michelle Collins and INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles will be available for interviews following the unveil.
After the event concludes, Palou and the Borg-Warner Trophy will make their way to the Indiana Pacers’ game at Gainbridge Life Fieldhouse, which starts at 7 p.m. The Borg-Warner Trophy will be on display in the fan pavilion for photo opportunities with fans before the game.
Fans can view the unveil live on the IMS YouTube channel
.WHAT: 2025 Borg-Warner Trophy Unveil
WHO: Alex Palou, Driver, Chip Ganassi Racing, J. Douglas Boles, President, INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Michelle Collins, Global Director of Marketing and Public Relations, BorgWarner
WHEN: 4-6 p.m. ET Wednesday, Nov. 19
WHERE: The Above Event Center, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis 

Gainbridge Continues Presenting Sponsorship of Indianapolis 500 in Multiyear Agreement Extension  

thepitwindow

From IMS:

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025) – Penske Entertainment Corp. and Gainbridge, an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC (“Group 1001”) that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future, today announced a multiyear sponsorship agreement, reinforcing a longstanding relationship between the two brands. Under the agreement, Gainbridge will continue to serve as the presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500, the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event.Gainbridge invests in impactful sports and education partnerships to promote its mission, and this extension further cements Gainbridge’s commitment to racing.
“Partnering with the Indianapolis 500 is a natural fit for Gainbridge, reflecting our shared commitment to success, innovation and making every second count,” said Group 1001 President and CEO Dan Towriss. “The Indianapolis 500 holds special significance to Hoosiers and fans across the world. We’re excited for this next chapter in our partnership and honored to celebrate the skilled drivers and the dedicated fans.”
“Our partnership with Gainbridge aligns two brands with a shared passion for growth and world-class customer experience,” Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles said.
“Renewing this relationship with a multiyear agreement showcases the strength and continued relevance of the Indy 500, an iconic event with the perfect entitlement partner to fuel a momentous future.”
Since Gainbridge began its sponsorship in 2019, the Indianapolis 500 logo has celebrated the iconography of the 500-Mile Race. The Icon Series logos have featured the bricks, the checkered flag, the Pagoda, the winner’s wreath, the famed oval, Victory Podium and the green flag.
Unveiled during the 2026 Indy 500 ticket renewal window, the 2026 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge logo has a patriotic flair to celebrate the nation’s military. This design aligns with the timing of the storied event, held annually during Memorial Day weekend, and the 250th birthday year of the United States.
The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026. Momentum and excitement are high following the historic grandstand sellout of the 2025 Indianapolis 500, which allowed a rare lift of the blackout of local broadcast coverage.
Visit IMS.com for tickets and more information about the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. 

When a Legacy Ends

thepitwindow

After 61 years and 55 Indianapolis 500-mile races, an Andretti will not be on the grid in IndyCar or the 500. Marco Andretti announced his retirement from racing Wednesday. Next May it will be strange not to see this storied name on the grid or on the entry list.

Andretti is the last of the Andrettis to race in the 500. My first 500 was in 1962. I have seen an Andretti on the grid since 1965, Mario’s rookie year. Outside of the split years from 1996-2000 and 1979 when Mario was in Formula 1, an Andretti has been in the field on Memorial Day weekend. I will definitely feel a void in May of 2026.

Besides Mario, Michael, and Marco, Jeff Andretti, Michael’s other son, and John Andretti (Aldo’s son) also ran in the 500. Mario, Michael, Jeff, and Michael all started the race in 1991 and 1992. One odd statistic is that Michael is the only one of the five Andrettis to be running at the finish of his final 500.

The Andretti clan has a combined total of 73 Indianapolis 500s on their collective resumes.

Marco began his career in a difficult situation. He followed his mega start grandfather and superstar father into the sport. The pressure on him h tremendous. His near miss of victory at Indy in his rookie year had fans thinking that another great Andretti career had begun. It was not to be. While Marco did well at IMS, he won just two races- at Sonoma and Iowa- five years apart. Andretti also earned three pole positions, including the top spot for the 2020 Indianapolis 500.

We should still see the Andretti name on the team that Michael founded at least through next year. After that I fear the team’s name may change to TWG to reflect6 the new ownership group.

The Andretti name will soon fall to the archives as have many of the great multigenerational names of the past like Vukovich and Unser. It was a pleasure to watch the Andrettis race. Thanks to all of them for the many great years.