Indianapolis 500: Indy 500 Pace Car Reunion Bringing Classic Autos Back to IMS

IMS Press Release

Some of the most beautiful automobiles that never drove a competitive lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – but still led the field – will be on hand for the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Reunion May 19-21.

The event, organized by the IMS Hall of Fame Museum, is set to draw a total of 188 examples of Indianapolis 500 Official Pace Cars representing 57 of the 89 races run to date.

The Pace Cars will begin to line up on the Speedway’s Hulman Boulevard, the road that runs down the middle of the IMS infield, beginning at noon (ET) Friday, May 19. By the time all Pace Cars arrive, the display will stretch for most of the length of the IMS infield.

The public is invited to browse the Pace Car Reunion and vote for their favorite car. Access is free with the price of admission to the IMS grounds, and voting cards will be available at the intersection of 5th Street and Hulman Boulevard – the south end of the display – and 7th Street and Hulman Boulevard, near the north end. Members of the public that cast a vote will receive an Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum 50th Anniversary collector’s pin.

The Pace Car Reunion will feature cars both owned by the Hall of Fame Museum and examples that are privately owned. Cars owned by the museum that will be on display include the 1911 Stoddard-Dayton Pace Car that was driven by IMS founder Carl G. Fisher at the inaugural race, the 1930 Cord L-29, 1964 Ford Mustang, 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT and every car that paced the Indianapolis 500 from 1975-2005.

Privately owned cars in attendance will include the 1925 Rickenbacker “8″ driven by Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker two years before he purchased the Speedway, the 1946 Lincoln V-12 driven by Henry Ford II in the first race run under the ownership of Anton “Tony” Hulman, the 1967 and 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, and the 1972 and 1974 editions of the Hurst/Olds driven by 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann.