Final practice, air demonstrations and music acts round out schedule Friday, May 24 at IMS. Read More>
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>
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>
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway prides itself on its fire rescue and medical response teams that arrive to the scene of an accident within seconds. But how do they get that good? On Behind the Bricks, IMS President Doug Boles takes you through the annual Motorsports Safety Training at IMS, which features specific training scenarios for INDYCAR, NASCAR, IMSA and more to make sure every driver at IMS is safe. Watch Video>
On this episode of Doug and Drivers, 2022 Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson sits down with Doug Boles to talk about the pain of coming so close to scoring back-to-back wins, how he wanted to compete on ovals after his Formula 1 career and the transition to Andretti Global. Watch Video>
Why does Scott McLaughlin move his hands around so much in the car? What "button" is he pushing? What's the pressure of the iconic Yellow Submarine like? We cover that and so much more with Scott McLaughlin on the latest Doug and Drivers. Watch Video>
June 12, 2015 | By IMS
Race fans longing for the bygone era of Formula One racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway can rekindle those memories and many more during the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational this weekend at IMS. Presented by the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational is one of the nation’s largest racing festivals showcasing cars of all types. Vintage Indy cars, Formula One cars, stock cars and more will run on the famed 2.5-mile oval and the 2.439-mile IMS road course today through Sunday, June 14. One of the premier cars at this year’s event is the No. 8 Benetton B197 that was driven throughout the 1997 Formula One season to a seventh-place finish by Gerhard Berger of Austria during the last of his 14 campaigns as an F1 driver. During last year’s inaugural Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational at IMS, Brian French of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a former AMA Superbike rider, drove the Benetton to victory in the Group 9 race that features a wide variety of cars including Formula One, Indy Lights, Formula 5000, Formula 2, Formula Atlantic & Formula B (1600cc); Formula Super Vee (1600cc, air and water cooled); Formula Continental and Formula 3 (1100cc). French, who switched to driving sports cars 20 years ago, has owned his prized Benetton for eight years and he enjoys driving it against all comers, including and especially against his son James, who drives the No. 11 Jordan 197 car that also competed during the 1997 Formula One season. “Last year, Jordan was broke with gearbox problems all year, so I didn’t have to run against him at all, so I went the whole season undefeated,” Brian said. Jordan, who also competes in the TUDOR United Sportscar Championship series, is a skilled driver with a wealth of knowledge that was instrumental in propelling his father across the finish line first last year at IMS. “Winning here last year was fantastic, but it was tough,” Brian said. “I was trying to learn a new track because I’d never been here before and didn’t do any simulator time. I struggled, but my son was coaching me all week and finally we got up to speed and got the pole and won on race day.” While James was his father’s chief ally here last year, he’s already demonstrated that this time around he’s out to take his father’s place on the top step of the podium. “He’ll be on the pole on race day,” Brian said. “He beat me by four seconds a lap in qualifying, he murdered me. He’s a well-seasoned driver and he’s got me covered, unless he breaks or crashes.” No matter who takes the checkered flag in this epic father-son battle on Saturday, it’s obvious how much all drivers competing at IMS this weekend appreciate the rare opportunity to drive at the Racing Capital of the World. “It’s a great track and the surface is nice with good grip,” Brian said. “We’re going to put on a good show.”