100th Anniversary Indy 500 To Be Honored At English Racing Festival
July 01, 2011 | By Paul Kelly
Photos | Video: Scott Dixon on Goodwood FoS
A century of competition at the Indianapolis 500 will be honored during the 2011 Festival of Speed on July 1-3 at Goodwood, with many Indianapolis 500 cars and a host of Indy drivers present in England for the world-renowned celebration of motor racing.
The 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 took place Sunday, May 29. Englishman Dan Wheldon earned his second victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” with a thrilling pass on the final straightaway of rookie JR Hildebrand, who crashed in Turn 4 on the final lap.
Many of the Indianapolis 500 cars heading to the famous festival in West Sussex, England never have been displayed outside of the United States, including these machines: No. 32 Marmon Wasp (1911), Miller (1928), No. 8 Cummins Diesel (1931), Preston Tucker Special (1938), No. 47 Hurst Floor Shift Special (1964), No. 14 Coyote (1977) and No. 4 Pennzoil Chaparral (1980).
Some of the cars will be driven on the famous Festival hillclimb course at Goodwood.
A number of Indianapolis 500 winners will attend the Festival of Speed, including: Kenny Brack, Helio Castroneves, Eddie Cheever Jr., Gil de Ferran, Scott Dixon, Emerson Fittipaldi, Dario Franchitti, Parnelli Jones, Arie Luyendyk, Bobby Rahal, Johnny Rutherford, Danny Sullivan, Al Unser Jr. Bobby Unser and Wheldon.
“I’ve driven on the Revival track, which is the racetrack, and we’re doing the Festival circuit, which is a demonstration up the hill,” said two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Franchitti. “It’s a special place, and I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’m looking forward to going as a fan. I’m going to take my camera and walk among all the cars and meet all the great drivers – rally drivers and motorbike riders – that I admire. I’m going to get to drive a couple of really special cars up the hill, too, but I’m also going to just be there and have a good time.”
The 2011 Festival of Speed’s opening tribute to 100 years of the Indianapolis 500 took place June 8, when Festival of Speed creator and organizer Lord March placed a set of original bricks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway permanently into the start-finish line of the Goodwood Park hillclimb course.
Another tribute to IMS will occur when the Indianapolis 500 cars make hillclimb runs, as course officials will wear authentic “yellow shirts” of the IMS Safety Patrol.
The Festival of Speed is the largest motoring garden party in the world – a unique summer weekend that brings together a fantastic mix of cars, stars and motorsport “royalty” to create the largest car culture event in the world. Held in the immaculate grounds of Goodwood House, this annual hillclimb event is a true celebration of motorsport and all things automotive.
***
2012 Indianapolis 500 ticket orders: The 2012 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race is scheduled for Sunday, May 27. Ticket information can be found at www.imstix.com. Ticket information also can be obtained by calling the Speedway's ticket office, (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY.