Greenfield wins 'Back Home Again in Indiana' contest
May 23, 2012 | By Paul Kelly
INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, May 23, 2012 – Greenfield, Ind., has been declared the winner of the 2012 Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s “Back Home Again in Indiana” Community Outreach Program, a statewide contest in which Hoosier communities celebrated the unmatched history and traditions of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
Greenfield prevailed against nine other Indiana finalist cities and towns and was awarded $20,000 from IMS for community improvements during a ceremony May 23 at the Speedway. Greenfield also will be recognized on a special trophy commemorating the event.
Greenfield will use its winnings to fund two scholarship programs for local youth interested in automobiles and motorsports. One scholarship will be presented to the Greenfield High School Super Mileage Club, which designs and builds fuel-efficient vehicles. The second scholarship will assist underprivileged Hancock Country youths enrolled in a driving and racing program directed by seven-time Indianapolis 500 driver and Greenfield native Mark Dismore.
Bloomfield finished second in the contest, with New Haven placing third. Each community will receive $2,500 from IMS.
The contest encouraged communities across Indiana to celebrate “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” by hosting parades and gatherings, and decorating town squares and main streets in an Indianapolis 500 theme selected by residents of the respective communities. Twenty-four communities took up the challenge, with 10 finalists determined earlier this month.
The 10 finalist communities: Albion, Angola, Batesville, Bloomfield, Brownsburg, Greenfield, Greensburg, Lake Station, New Haven and Veedersburg.
Other participating communities: Amo, Bethany, Brownstown, Connersville, Elwood, Fishers, Flower, Frankfort, Milan, Rensselaer, Speedway, Stilesville, Sunman and Waterloo.
The “Back Home in Indiana” program was open to all cities and towns in Indiana, with each participating community receiving benefits from IMS, including prizes awarded for the betterment of the community and tickets to many of the activities surrounding the 2012 Indianapolis 500. Started by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman after World War II, the “Back Home Again” program was re-established last year in celebration of the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500.
The 96th Indianapolis 500 starts at noon (ET) Sunday, May 27.
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2012 Indianapolis 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 96th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Race Day ticket prices start at just $30. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Children 12 and under will be receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2012 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.
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Media Contact: J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, (317) 492-6412 or (317) 750-9277, dboles@brickyard.com
Tom Surber, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, (317) 492-6594, tsurber@brickyard.com
Media Website: media.indianapolismotorspeedway.com