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Geoff Brabham
Teams of Brabham, Willy T. To Start on Front Row of Charity Pro-Am Saturday at IMS

Teams featuring Indianapolis 500 veterans Geoff Brabham and Willy T. Ribbs will start on the front row of the Vintage Race of Champions (VROC) Charity Pro-Am presented by Chopard Watch 

The VROC Charity Pro-Am, which starts at 1:15 p.m. (ET) Saturday, is the feature event at the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational this weekend at IMS. The cars are 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros, and Mustangs of Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) “Group 6” A and B Production.

Professionals will be paired with amateur drivers. Amateurs will start the 50-minute race and be required to drive a maximum of seven laps on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at IMS.

Peter Klutt will start the No. 59 1969 Chevrolet Corvette from the pole and hand the car to 10-time Indianapolis 500 starter and sports car racing legend Brabham, winner of the 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Klutt and Brabham appear to be the class of the field, as their best practice time Friday morning was 1 minute, 40.017 seconds, 1.6 seconds quicker than the next-fastest car.

Edward Sevadjian will start second in the No. 36B 1969 Chevrolet Corvette before handing the car to Ribbs, the first African-American driver to race in the Indianapolis 500.

The No. 46 1969 Chevrolet Corvette shared by 2000 Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard winner Bobby Labonte and Gary Klutt will start third, alongside the No. 27 1969 Chevrolet Corvette shared by former NASCAR Cup Series driver Boris Said and Jim Caudle.

Two-time NASCAR Truck Series champion Todd Bodine and Jim Sandberg round out the top five starters in their No. 84 1969 Chevrolet Corvette.

The No. 37 1968 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster shared by three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford and Clair Schwendeman will start 12th in the 20-car field. Rutherford, 81, is returning to the race seat this weekend after a long hiatus.

The Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational VROC Charity Pro-Am will benefit the Morgan Adams Foundation. The foundation supports laboratory and clinical research for pediatric cancer, with an emphasis on tumors on the brain, spine and central nervous system.

In addition to the Pro-Am, there will be a festival of other activities at the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, including professional Trans Am by Pirelli series races Saturday and Sunday. The weekend also presents the Hagerty Insurance “cars & caffeine” car corral, and 300-plus vintage racers ranging over 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12.

Fans can order Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational tickets for either or both days of the event online through the Speedway or by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700. Fans can also visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. Children 15 and under are admitted free each day when accompanied by an adult.

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