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>
December 22, 2019 | By Paul Kelly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Editor’s Note: This is the second of a series of 10 vignettes in which IMS Senior Communications Manager Paul Kelly picks his top 10 moments of 2019 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Some of the greatest safety innovations in motorsports history have debuted or been developed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The list is beyond impressive, starting with the world’s first rear-view mirror affixed to the winning No. 32 Marmon “Wasp” driven to victory by Ray Harroun in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911. Other “firsts” include the first use of a Pace Car, in 1911; the first use of four-wheel hydraulic brakes, in 1921; the first installation of colored warning lights, in 1935; the first mandatory use of helmets, in 1935; mandatory use of fire-resistant uniforms and roll bars on cars, in 1959; mandatory use of methanol fuel, which is much less volatile than gasoline, in 1965; mandatory use of a rupture-resistant fuel cell, in 1965; the first use of crash-data recorders, in 1993; the introduction of the revolutionary SAFER Barrier energy-absorbing system, in 2002; and so many more. The latest safety innovation to be unveiled and test was the revolutionary Aeroscreen, which had its first on-track test Oct. 2 at IMS. Series champions and Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winners Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing and Will Power of Team Penske tested the safety device, which will be fitted around the cockpits of all NTT IndyCar Series cars starting in the 2020 season. The Aeroscreen has been developed by Red Bull Advanced Technologies to reduce the risk of driver injury from debris or other objects striking the cockpit area. The driver safety innovation encompassing the cockpit is comprised of a ballistic Aeroscreen anchored by titanium framework. “This is a total industry-changing driver safety solution,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “I think this is something that will really change the complexion of the sport for a long time to come, so this is big.” Dixon had the unique perspective of being a witness to the two most-recent safety breakthroughs at IMS. He made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 2003, just one year after the revolutionary SAFER Barrier was unveiled and first installed. The system now is standard equipment at every major oval racing facility on Earth and many road circuits. “I remember hitting the old concrete walls (before 2003), and they weren't too fun,” Dixon said. “It's been a huge advancement, not just for INDYCAR and what they did for the sport, but it went everywhere. It helped a lot of formulas. “This (Aeroscreen) is just another version of it, I think one that we've been wanting to implement. This is huge for drivers and for safety of the sport and something that will definitely push that safety boundary, I think, throughout.” The successful test also the latest chapter of IMS’ legacy as an incubator and laboratory for racing and automotive safety for 110 years. Since 1909, fostering innovation and development in motorsports safety has been a priority for IMS leadership, and the teams and manufacturers that compete at the Racing Capital of the World. Over time, many exciting breakthroughs have occurred, and many lives have been saved. It was yet another example of how the quest for increased safety never rests at IMS and INDYCAR.