Centennial Era Celebration: 2011 Race Morning
June 17, 2020 | By Donald Davidson, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
When Indianapolis Motor Speedway personnel began, a decade ago, to look ahead and contemplate the most appropriate way to celebrate "the 100th anniversary," the question became, "Celebrate the 100th anniversary of what?"
Should it be the date of purchase of the farmland on which the course was to be built?
Or when the ground-clearing and construction began?
The June 5, 1909 balloon race, perhaps?
The August program of motorcycle racing, which ushered in motorized competition?
Completion of the laying of the bricks?
The running of the first "500"?
Or......what?
The most satisfactory solution seemed to be to recognize a general Centennial Era which would kick off in January of 2009 and then continue on through for the next 2½ years to culminate with the conclusion of the 2011 Indianapolis 500, which would be marking the 100th anniversary of the inaugural running back in 1911.
But how to celebrate the latter?
Well, the suggestions came thick and fast, everyone submitting his or her wish list, with the ideas generally being quite grandiose and not a few of them concerning which internationally renowned dignitaries might be invited.
Along with all of this, however, considerable thought was being given to catering to the legions of fans for whom attending the Indianapolis 500 has been an emotional annual ritual for 30, 40 and 50 years, and more. How about—for the benefit of those devotees—showcasing the former participants who had had such an impact on them throughout their lives, along with a few of the iconic racing cars those heroes drove?
Wouldn't it be great if there could be a gathering of every living Indianapolis 500 winner?
How about every pole winner?
What about all of the living lap leaders, and the runners-up, plus the third-place finishers and those who had finishes within the first 10?
Or why not just go the whole nine yards? How about all of the others, many of whom have gone on record as stating that by merely having qualified for the "500" and driven in it just once or twice, their lives were changed forever?
Wouldn't it be great if we could assemble as many former Indianapolis 500 starting drivers as we could possibly get and line them all up for a gigantic group photograph?
And how about rewarding the fans with an autograph session to top all previous autograph sessions?
After all, how many other sports are there throughout the world in which there are so many devoted fans who appreciate ALL of the participants, whether they enjoyed great success or not? How many examples can there possibly be as there are here, in which there are legions of followers so devoted to the participants of past eras that they make annual pilgrimages to the Speedway, lugging satchels full of photographs and memorabilia on the off-chance that a driver who made a single "500" start three or four decades ago might just happen to be back this time for a visit?
So how would it be if there were an attempt to assemble as many as possible in one place at virtually the same time for the benefit of those loyal fans and give them a reward they have long deserved, not to mention giving the performers themselves a chance to reconnect with the fans who supported them during their careers?
And so it came to pass. Just before the 2010 Thanksgiving holidays, out went the first round of invitations, the result of all that brain-storming and planning culminating in some of the following:
+ A celebration of truly classic vintage passenger car vehicles and racing cars on the opening weekend of practice, capped by an awards dinner at which the program included a round-table discussion with iconic "500" winners Parnelli Jones, Johnny Rutherford, Danny Sullivan, Arie Luyendyk and Al Unser, Jr.
+ A panel discussion on the Plaza Area stage on the morning of the first day of qualifications with former pole winners Bobby Unser, Arie Luyendyk, Roberto Guerrero and Al Unser, Jr. And even as this was going on, just a few yards away at the very same time, a huge crowd was being entertained at the Mayor's Breakfast with IMS Radio Network anchor Mike King interviewing Rick Mears, Johnny Rutherford and surprise guest Mario Andretti. (Fans wandering through the Plaza area as both events were winding up must have thought they had died and gone to Heaven!)
+ Approximately 20 minutes after pole qualifying had ended that evening and Alex Tagliani had nailed down the number one starting spot, he was joined for a group photo on the start/finish line bricks with 11 former pole winners. Nobody major. Just A. J. Foyt, Mears, Andretti, Rutherford, Helio Castroneves, Al Unser, Jr., Guerrero, Luyendyk, Scott Dixon, Bruno Junqueira and Pancho Carter.
+ A further treat for fans on the following morning—"bump day"—with another group discussion on the stage, this time with Derek Daly, Lyn St. James, Steve Chassey, Bob Harkey and Eldon Rasmussen, each relating experiences few can truly appreciate; namely, starting in the Indianapolis 500—eyes smarting from fumes and bodies buffeted around by the extreme turbulence—from the 11th and final row.
+ A huge turnout at the Hall of Fame dinner on Thursday night, May 26 with attendees including Hall of Fame members Al, Bobby and Al Unser, Jr., Parnelli Jones, Rutherford, Luyendyk, Emerson Fittipaldi, Dan Gurney, George Bignotti, A. J. Watson, Andy Granatelli, Tom Sneva and brand-new inductee Jim McGee. Not only that, but with other special honorees being the 14 surviving drivers who competed in the "500" with a front-engined car, Jones, Rutherford and Bobby Unser were joined on the stage by Paul Goldsmith, Jimmy McElreath, Art Malone, Bob Harkey, Don Edmunds and Chuck Hulse. Others in attendance included Vern Schuppan, Tom Bagley and Pat Patrick, with Jim Nabors, Ruth Buzzi and Florence Henderson also in the room.
+ An autograph session in the Hall of Fame Museum on Friday morning, May 27, attended by Indianapolis 500 winners Jones, Rutherford, Sneva, Luyendyk, Fittipaldi, Bobby and Al Unser, Gil de Ferran and Kenny Brack. As further proof that not only are the "500" fans the most dedicated, gracious and appreciative in the world, but so too are the heroes they idolize, there was an outstanding gesture when Museum staff members felt they should probably be bringing the proceedings to a close. In spite of the advertised time for concluding having long since passed, Parnelli Jones looked at the still fairly substantial line of waiting fans and volunteered to continue signing. Sneva and Rutherford agreed to stay with him, and while Rutherford eventually had to duck out, Jones and Sneva remained behind for more than an hour beyond the time to which they had originally agreed.
+ A swap-meet memorabilia show the day before the race, at which were displayed several sprint and midget racing cars driven at some point by one Indianapolis 500 winner or another. Several drivers were spied not only looking over the cars but also rummaging through the swap meet offerings.
+ An absolutely stunning photograph taken in the Plaza Area at approximately 10:20 on the morning before the race in which 156 Indianapolis 500-starting drivers lined up along with the five "rookies" who would be making their debuts on the following day, thus achieving a grand total of 161 out of a possible 273. It was without any doubt the largest gathering of Indianapolis 500 veterans in the same place and at the same time EVER.
+ A gigantic autograph session later that afternoon at which somewhere in the region of 100 former "500" drivers sat down, in shifts, to meet with the fans. Surely there had NEVER been an autograph session to compare with THIS one.
+ Three separate laps of honor on race morning involving iconic "500" drivers and cars, each of these covered in greater detail elsewhere within this section, and all of which tugged at the emotions of everyone even remotely involved.
It had been a fantastic few days of reunions, camaraderie and joy, almost overwhelming in nature, both for participants and fans. The weather had been almost exclusively gorgeous, and the feedback phenomenal.
Once the race was over and the following evening's Victory Banquet was completed, it would be time to sit back, take a deep breath, and begin contemplating an appropriate celebration worthy of commemorating the 100th RUNNING of the Indianapolis 500 some five years hence.
And that would likely be here before anyone had time to realize it.
RACE MORNING
It is around 10 a.m. on race morning and several racing cars, either specifically from the 1911 "500," or at least from that same approximate time period are rolling out of the south end pits and on to the the racing surface.
At the wheel of Ray Harroun's 1911-winning Marmon "Wasp" is Parnelli Jones. A few car lengths away from him is the ALCO which competed in the 1911 "500" and won the Vanderbilt Cup on Long Island in 1909 and 1910. Driving it this morning and wearing an authentic leather cap he brought along himself is two-time World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi. Fellow F1 and "500" colleague, Derek Daly is taking out an Inter-State while virtually alongside him is 1996 "500" winner Buddy Lazier in a 1911 National. Willy T. Ribbs has wedged himself beneath the tightly-fitting steering wheel of a Mercer and Lyn St. James is actually laughing out loud for sheer joy as she moves out with a 1909 Buick, the floppy cap on her head just loaned to her by Ribbs, who came with two choices of head gear.
Jones, Fittipaldi and Lazier won't have a lot of time to spare when they return from this lap because they will almost immediately be going out again.
At approximately 10:20, a caravan of 2011 Chevrolet Camaro pace cars begins to file out onto the track at the south end and into turn one, each carrying an Indianapolis 500 winner and accompanied in many cases by members of the winner's family. It has been decided to respect the extraordinary pressures placed on the winners competing in the race and invite only those who are retired, even 'though several are still involved as car entrants and driver coaches, etc. In spite of concerns that a number of the drivers might be detained somewhere and not arrive in time, the end result is astonishing.
No less than 15 different winners ride majestically out onto the track, the only retired winner on the grounds not able to participate being Eddie Cheever, who is locked into his role as a commentator for ABC's live television coverage, which is already underway.
With the early-arriving fans just about going berserk and yelling out their appreciation, A. J. Foyt is first to roll past them, followed by Parnelli Jones, Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Johnny Rutherford, Rick Mears, Tom Sneva, Bobby Rahal, Emerson Fittipaldi, Arie Luyendyk, Al Unser, Jr., Buddy Lazier, Kenny Brack and Gil de Ferran.
Wow!
It is a hugely emotional experience for all involved, the comments heard later from the fans, the drivers themselves and their families confirming that this effort has not been in vain.
The only retired living winners not riding, other than Cheever are Danny Sullivan, who was here during the opening week but had to leave due to a commitment in Europe, plus five others who are not in attendance for various reasons: Jim Rathmann, Gordon Johncock, Jacques Villeneuve, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Sam Hornish, Jr.
That leaves Helio Castroneves, Dan Wheldon, Buddy Rice and Scott Dixon. These four are elsewhere on the grounds and will all be coming by a little later on, at a substantially quicker pace!
But in the meantime, there will be yet another reward for those already in their seats.
At a little before 11:00 a.m., the air at the south of the end of the track is once again shattered by the sounds of a variety of racing engines firing up, a couple of them perhaps a little more reluctantly than the others. Ten iconic Indianapolis 500-winning cars are about to take to the track, each of them driven by an Indianapolis 500-winning driver, and two of those having the distinction of being a multiple winner who is about to pilot a car which carried him to one of his victories.
Parnelli Jones goes out for his third lap of the morning and the second on which he has driven Harroun's 1911-winning Marmon. As he will later note, it has been 50 years since his "rookie" year of 1961 and prior to the start that year, none other than 82-year-old Ray Harroun himself took this car out for a lap.
To the further delight of the adoring fans, all of the drivers are bareheaded rather than being virtually anonymous inside full-face helmets, while each of them wears an individually tailored uniform produced and donated by Nancy Chumley, the lady who now owns and continues to operate the iconic Hinchman Uniform Company.
The others joining Parnelli are Bobby Unser in Joe Dawson's 1912-winning National with wife Lisa accompanying him in the riding in mechanic's seat; Mario Andretti in Wilbur Shaw's 1939-40 winning Boyle Maserati; Tom Sneva in Mauri Rose's 1947/48-winning Blue Crown front-drive car; Al Unser in Jim Clark's 1965 Lotus; Kenny Brack in the 1957/58 winning Belond "laydown" of Sam Hanks and Jimmy Bryan; Al Unser, Jr., in Montoya's 2000 winner, and the two who are driving a winner of their own, Johnny Rutherford in the 1980 "Yellow Submarine" and Arie Luyendyk in his 1990 Lola, which continues to hold the all-time "500" race-winning record of 185.961 mph.
As it turns out, this is not the original lineup, some shuffling having been required just a few minutes ago before departure.
A small crowd had gathered around the Belond "layover" which had originally been assigned to Sneva. He was still sitting in the cockpit, but in heavy conversation with members of the IMS Hall of Fame restoration department and also with Al Unser, Jr. who had been positioned right next to him in the Blue Crown.
"It's too tight for me and I can't work the clutch," Sneva had said, failing to be able to do so even with the edge of his heel. With no amount of the limited available adjustments doing any good, it was only a few moments before he was out of the cockpit and "Little Al" was in.
"I can't get it either," said Junior after several diligent attempts, Sneva already in the cockpit of the Blue Crown and looking considerably happier.
"We need a shorter driver," said somebody as Al climbed out, whereupon several people called out in unison, "What about Mario? Let's get Mario!"
Aware that the future World Champion and "500" winner, and his twin brother, Aldo (John Andretti's father) had been brought to the 1958 race by their uncle as teenagers, Mario was approached to see if he would like to drive the car which won the first "500" he had ever witnessed. Under just about any other circumstances he would have been delighted to accept. But not under these! He was seated in Shaw's 1939/40 winner, which just happened to be a 183-cubic-inch straight-eight DUAL supercharged Maserati. Now it is quite reasonable to assume that somebody named Andretti, who had been born and spent his formative years in Italy, and who had been known to have some involvement in motor racing over the years, just might have an interest in driving a pre-war Maserati! "No," he protested, a look of horror and disbelief on his face as he slid a couple of inches further down in the cockpit and placed an even tighter grip on the steering wheel. "No," he repeated, a sheepish grin now replacing his glare, "I want to drive THIS!"
OK, so who was the second-shortest driver? Well that was determined to be Kenny Brack, who was already nestled down in Montoya's 2000 winner after having tried it out in the garage area a couple of days earlier. But over he came, and to everyone's relief, after making himself comfortable in the cockpit, exclaimed, "Yes, I'm OK in this."
So with Sneva happy in the Blue Crown and Al, Jr., heading down to take over the Montoya winner vacated by Brack, the game of musical "500" winners was completed.
There was considerable difficulty in getting the Belond fired, but it had nothing to do with the fact that Brack had never before driven an Offy. Not everyone appreciates that these decades-old power plants require a lot more than simply turning a key in the ignition. As one seasoned observer was to point out, "You know, when you think about it, when Ray Harroun drove the Marmon Wasp on the morning of the 1961 race, that car was newer then than the Belond is now!'
And he was right.
With Brack's engine finally fired, there was to be one more slight delay when Luyendyk was making his U-turn to get out on to the track. Rutherford was going out at the same time and was immediately to Arie's right. Just as Arie was completing the maneuver, his engine promptly stalled. But not to worry. A half dozen or so hardy souls immediately ran in behind the car's rear wing, broke into a run and within seconds the V8 turbocharged power plant burst into song. The all-time track record holder was on his way, soon to catch up with his nine illustrious colleagues.
Shortly before taking off, there was a lovely moment when somebody stood by Al Unser in the 1965-winning Lotus and called out, “Hey, that’s right, Jim Clark was your teammate in 1966, wasn’t he?” to which Al solemnly stressed in response, “No, I was HIS teammate.”
Nice!
The early-arriving fans had never seen anything like this, and presumably it was something they will never forget.
Oh, and the start of the actual Indianapolis 500 was now only a couple of hours away!