Two departure times provide more flexibility for fans who want to commute to the track on their bike on Race Day. Read More>
This partnership represents the first time a major athlete's sponsorship has been decided by a vote using blockchain technology. Read More>
e.l.f. is believed to be the first beauty brand to serve as a primary sponsor for an entry in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” as Legge will drive the No. 51 e.l.f. Honda on Sunday, May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Read More>
View images from the shortened first day of the Indianapolis 500 Open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. View Photos>
View images from the once-in-a-lifetime Total Solar Eclipse event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. View Photos>
Josef Newgarden unveils the 2024 Indianapolis 500 Ticket View Photos>
On this episode of Behind the Bricks, IMS President Doug Boles truly goes behind the bricks of the IMS Museum and checks in on the renovation progress. He also gets an exclusive look at the vision of the refreshed Museum, which opens a year from this week. The Museum is a separate entity from IMS and is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Consider supporting the Museum by visiting imsmuseum.org Watch Video>
On this episode of Doug and Drivers, 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi talks his chances to win "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" again, adjusting to Arrow McLaren, getting married over the offseason and so much more. Watch Video>
On this episode of Doug and Drivers, IMS President Doug Boles sits down with four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves. The modern legend discusses his historic Drive for Five, his transition to an ownership role within Meyer Shank Racing, the loss of his dear friend Gil de Ferran, and more. Watch Video>
July 21, 2014 | By IMS
Tony Stewart freely admits he was one of the purists who didn’t think much of NASCAR’s invasion of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994 for the inaugural Brickyard 400. For a Hoosier who worshipped the 2.5-mile oval and was raised on open-wheel racing, only one kind of race at Indy would do. “I was one of them that thought it was a crime, initially,” the Columbus, Ind., native said. “I’m a purist. It’s always been sacred ground to me. I remember when they did the tire test there and there was so much excitement after that, and that really didn’t even get me to switch sides.” He was racing in Illinois and didn’t see the first Brickyard until later that day on replay, but once he did -- and heard from fellow racers that stock cars crossing the yard of bricks was plenty cool -- he was sold. “It was the month of May historically, and all of a sudden it was the month of May and (July) now, and you had the same historic racetrack and now you had two events instead of one,” Stewart said. Stewart has had his share of May appearances in the Indianapolis 500, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in 1997 and a sixth in 2001 when he did double-duty at Indy and NASCAR’s 600-miler in Charlotte. He has put his name in the history books for his Brickyard performances. “Smoke” has two wins, in 2005 and 2007, 11 top-10 finishes including each of the last five years, and he’s a perfect 2,401-for-2,401 in laps completed. “It’s a big deal,” Stewart said on a teleconference in advance of the 21st annual Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com. “When you grow up 45 minutes from Indy … that is sacred ground to me. Always has been, always will be.” So, will this season bring a third Indy win? This season’s Sprint Cup campaign so far would suggest not, as Stewart is 19th in points in his Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet with no wins and just two top 5s. On the other hand, Stewart is notorious for picking up steam midway through a season, and in a tire test last month at IMS his car was fast before a tire failure led to a crash. And he gained a big measure of confidence last weekend in a sprint car race. At Tri-City Motor Speedway in Auburn, Michigan, Stewart won in a winged sprint car one year after an accident in the same type of car left him with two broken leg bones and a long rehabilitation. “It was a confidence boost for me,” said Stewart, 43. “Dealing with when you haven’t won, and you haven’t necessarily been a contender to be in the top two or three each week and having those opportunities to win races this year, you start questioning what it is in the equation that you’re missing. “We’re all finicky when it comes to running bad and you sit there and start questioning if you’re doing something wrong or if you’re not adapting to the car.” Stewart knows he’s still got it. Next is finding out whether he’ll have it at his hometown track, where he relishes the chance to become a three-time Indy winner. “It’s a big deal. It’s always big when you come home. It’s always big when you have friends and family that don’t get the opportunity to go see you race anywhere else.