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>
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>
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>
May 19, 2020 | By Donald Davidson, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Featured Image: Jim Rathmann celebrates with his family in Victory Circle after winning the 1960 Indianapolis 500. Around Rathmann's right arm is the very first winner's wreath given to the winner of the 500-Mile race. Also, to Rathmann's left in the black and white stripped shirt is the very first 500 Festival Queen to join the "500" winner in Victory Lane. Now called the 500 Festival Princess, they have joined the Victory Circle celebration every year since.
Long used in international Grand Prix racing, the winner’s wreath at Indianapolis appears to have debuted in 1960 when a wreath featuring several exotic-looking dark-yellow and brown flowers was placed on the shoulders of that year’s “500” winner, Jim Rathmann.
Underwritten by BorgWarner Corporation, the wreaths were the creation of William J. “Bill” Cronin, a longtime Indianapolis florist who was a one-time consultant for the parades of the Rose Bowl, the Cotton Bowl and the 500 Festival. He died in 1989.
His widow, Pat, was the lady who for many years was the charming hostess who ran the Pace Car hospitality room for the press and visiting dignitaries on the ground floor of the Master Control Tower.
For the last many years, the wreath has featured 33 ivory-colored Cymbidium orchids with burgundy tips, plus 33 miniature checkered flags, intertwined with red, white and blue ribbons.