Jalopnik: Indy 500

Lotus to run former F1 star Jean Alesi in 2012 Indy 500

Justin Hyde — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EDT

Among the smarter moves made by the nü-wave crew at Lotus has been hiring former Formula 1 star Jean Alesi as a brand ambassador/Jeremy Clarkson ballhandler. Today, Lotus announced it was giving Alesi another job: Running the Indianapolis 500. More »

The toughest driver at Indy is a woman, and she's not Danica Patrick

Justin Hyde — Tue, 24 May 2011 12:30:00 EDT

The most popular racer in this year Indianapolis 500 is a 22-year-old Swiss woman who managed to qualify despite second-degree burns on her hands. Here's how Simona De Silvestro is earning her new nickname: "The Swiss Missile." More »

Giant check takes final slot in Indy 500

Justin Hyde — Tue, 24 May 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Last weekend, racer Bruno Junqueira qualified for the Indianapolis 500 in 19th for A.J. Foyt's team. Yesterday, he sent a single tweet: "I got bump." His replacement? A large check from Michael Andretti's team. More »

Indy driver Simona de Silvestro suffers burns in fiery crash

Justin Hyde — Fri, 20 May 2011 10:00:00 EDT

Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro hopes to return to practicing for the Indianapolis 500 as early as today after a crash during practice Thursday sent her car airborne and left her with second-degree burns. More »

Indy 500 drivers spend their rain day planking

Justin Hyde — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:50:00 EDT

It's been a rainy year in Indianapolis, and with not much to do around Gasoline Alley today but pray for a Texas drought, the racing hopefuls for this year's Indianapolis 500 practiced their planking skills. More »

Donald Trump replaced by 76-year-old as Indy 500 pace car driver

Justin Hyde — Fri, 06 May 2011 11:45:00 EDT

Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt will replace four-time bankruptcy court visitor Donald Trump as driver of the Indy 500 pace car during its 100th anniversary later this month. Can we get him to wear the hair helmet? More »

Indy 500 to Donald Trump: "You're Fired!"

Justin Hyde — Thu, 05 May 2011 12:00:00 EDT

As Jalopnik first reported this morning, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has booted Donald Trump from the driver's seat of the pace car for the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 after fans complained he was too politically motivated.Update! More »

Trump says he won't bow out of Indy 500

Ray Wert — Thu, 05 May 2011 11:40:00 EDT

A spokesperson for Donald Trump, in response to the movement to replace him as pace car driver for the Indy 500, said "there are no plans to bow out over this politically-motivated movement." More »

Why Donald Trump should still pace the Indy 500

Justin Hyde — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:30:00 EDT

Last month, the Indianapolis 500 announced Donald Trump would drive the pace car during its 100th anniversary later this month. Now several groups are advocating Trump should get bumped thanks to his political attacks. Here's why he still should drive. More »

Donald Trump to drive Indy 500 pace car

Ray Wert — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EDT

Real-estate mogul and "Celebrity Apprentice" star Donald Trump has been asked to drive the Chevrolet Camaro SS pace car by Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and CEO Jeff Belskus at this year's Indy 500. More »

Longtime Indianapolis 500 announcer Tom Carnegie dies at 91

Tom Joslin — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST

For over 60 years, Tom Carnegie was the voice of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Seen here giving a post race interview, it was Carnegie's booming voice that announced every Indianapolis 500 race from 1946-2006. More »

Chevy Camaro SS Drops Top As Official Indy 500 Pace Car

Ray Wert — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Tonight at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Arizona, Chevrolet and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced that yet again, the Camaro SS will be the official Pace Car of this year's Indy 500. The difference this year? It's the convertible. Ooh! More »

Dario Franchitti Drives Jim Clark's Lotus At Indy

Justin Hyde — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST

To mark next May's 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, Road & Track arranged for past winners to take laps at the Brickyard in some historic machinery. Here's Dario Franchitti unleashing the 1965 Lotus of Jim Clark: More »

Indy 500 Movie May Begin Filming This Year

Sam Smith — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EDT

A movie about the first Indianapolis 500, written by the man behind Hoosiers and Rudy, might begin filming this year in Indiana. Will it suck? Just pray for no Stallone. [Indy Star via Hemmings] More »

A Brief History Of The Jet-Powered Car

Mattijs Diepraam — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EDT

For a short period of time in the last century, turbine-driven cars were all the rage. Manufacturers hawked them, race engineers played with them, and the public drooled over them. 8W takes a glimpse into our kerosene-fueled past. —Ed. More »

16-Year-Old Racer Wants To Be First Woman To Win Indy 500

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EDT

Sixteen-year-old Savannah Rickli has been racing go-karts since she was seven, and she currently competes in a modified Mini Cooper. She just finished the dangerous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and wants to win the Indy 500 next. More »

Mike Conway Survives Insane Indy 500 Crash

Matt Hardigree — Sun, 30 May 2010 19:54:00 EDT

The last lap of this year's Indy 500 provided the most excitement when Mike Conway's #24 car collided with an out-of-gas Ryan Hunter-Reay, sending Conway backwards into the catch fence. Here's the terrifying replay. More »

Ten Alternative Indy 500 Pace Cars

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:00:00 EDT

The 2010 Camaro SS will pace this year's Indy 500 in a boring twist for a boring race. To spice things up we asked you to name some better options. Here are our favorite ten alternative Indy 500 pace cars. More »

Official 2010 Indy 500 Pace Car Is Yet Again A Camaro SS

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST

The Camaro SS will patrol The Brickyard for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 in bright Inferno Orange with white stripes as an homage to the '69 Indy Pace Car. The best feature? A trick light-bar integrated into the rear window. More »

Eight Automotive Myths We Choose To Believe

John Krewson — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EDT

Sometimes traditional beliefs run contrary to the facts. Most times it's beneficial to examine those beliefs and adjust to a new way of thinking. But sometimes ideas attain the status of myth for very good reasons. Here's eight of those. More »

Twelve Awesome Pace Cars

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:45:00 EDT

The only way to guarantee you're out at front in any race is to be in a pace car. We've picked out these twelve best featured below with the help of our readers. More »

Watch The Indy 500 The Geek Way

Peter Orosz — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EDT

In case you’d like to re-live last weekend’s Indy 500—or watching 200 laps on a rectangular oval is simply not your thing—the Indianapolis Star has created an excellent Flash visualization of the race. More »

Vitor Meira's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Indy 500

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:30:00 EDT

Vitor Meira had a pretty rough Indianapolis 500. His car went up in a fireball, and he returned on the lead lap only to get involved in the days most spectacular crash. Roll the videos! More »

Helio Castroneves Cries Victorious Tears

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:30:00 EDT

From a rumored affair to actual tax evasion charges, things have been a little rough for Helio Castroneves. Top it off with your third Indy 500 win and things get, well, emotional. More »

The Ten Worst Things About The Indy 500

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:00:00 EDT

While it was great to see Helio Castroneves take home his third win, and watching the cars is always a treat, there are plenty of things to hate about the Indianapolis 500. Here are our top ten. More »

Helio Castroneves Wins 2009 Indy 500, Third Victory At Indy

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:40:22 EDT

Helio Castroneves has won the 2009 Indianapolis 500, marking his third career win here at the Brickyard. It also makes for a record breaking 15th team with for Penske Racing. Official race results below. More »

Indy 500: Vitor Meira Crash Introduces Sideways Retaining Wall Racing

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:24:32 EDT

We haven't gotten decent images yet, but if you missed it, Vitor Meira, who returned to the field after a near-flambe, got tangled with Raphael Matos, his car flipped backwards, landed on its side pod and slid along the wall for about a quarter mile before landing upright. Unbelievable. More »

Vitor Meira Lights Self On Fire, Will Change Pants Later

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:37:16 EDT

During a pit stop, Vitor Meira got the OK to pull away before the fuel probe was totally withdrawn, resulting in a full-car fireball! The pit crew quickly put out the fire and Meira went back into the race and remained on the lead lap! Cajones? Yep. More »

Indy 500: Tony Kanaan Crashes Out Hard On Lap 99

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:59:56 EDT

Tony Kanaan's streak of leading every Indianapolis 500 he's ever been in has come to an end as he crashed hard into the wall on the entry of turn two and bounced off, hitting hard again on the other side. Thankfully he walked off under his own power. More »

Indy 500: Davey Hamilton Hits The Wall In Turn Four

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:42:39 EDT

Turn four at the Indy 500 is turning into a graveyard as Davey Hamilton has hit the wall following similar crashes from Graham Rahal, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Robert Doornbos (who kissed the wall after some 150 MPH reverse lock correction). We're 90 laps in and under green once again. More »

Graham Rahal Crashes Exiting Turn Four, Dixon Takes Lead

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:20:44 EDT

For the second straight year, Graham Rahal has crashed in the beginning laps of the Indy 500, grinding the outside of his car hard into the outside wall while exiting turn four. Lucky for us he came to rest just in front of the press box. Pics below. More »

Indy 500: Ryan Hunter-Reay Crashes Into Pit Lane

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:48:15 EDT

Ryan Hunter-Reay in the #21 car lost it into the outside of turn four and slid into pit lane amidst a shower of sparks. We're sitting at 12 laps of yellow out of 26 so you might say the Indianapolis 500 is getting off to a crashy start. More »

Indy 500: And They're Off... To A Yellow

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:29:26 EDT

The green flag dropped on the 93th running of the Indianapolis 500 and almost right away two cars went into the wall. Mario Moraes and Marco Andretti tangled in the first lap. The 22-year-old Moraes was apparently on his cell phone and not paying attention, pushing Andretti into the wall. More »

Things You See At The Indy 500

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 12:45:02 EDT

It's getting close to the start now, the grandstands are full, cars are on the track, all the teams are making last minute checks and Miss America is singing "America the Beautiful." Here's a collection of some of the sights and sounds going on right now at the Indy 500. More »

Everything You Need To Know About The 2009 Indy 500

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 10:30:00 EDT

It may be 200 laps worth of left turns, but the Indianapolis 500 is a very big race. We've assembled the definitive collection of everything you need to know about today's events. More »

Camaro Pace Cars Have Brake Weights, Crazy Wheel Imbalance

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 08:00:00 EDT

You might think the General would have addressed the brake weights added to the Chevy Camaro's squealing calipers for their Indy 500 pace cars. You'd be wrong, because these have those plus a ton of weights for actual wheel balancing. More »

Indy 500: We're Here!

Ben Wojdyla — Sun, 24 May 2009 07:15:00 EDT

After a harrowing battle with 326 miles of cornfields and freeways, we've made it through the gates of the Indianapolis 500. It's already muggy, and the red sunrise looms like a warning from the racing gods. More »

Jalopnik Going Indy, Perhaps A Bit Gonzo

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:00:00 EDT

Jalopnik Going Indy, Perhaps A Bit Gonzo" alt="Click here to read Jalopnik Going Indy, Perhaps A Bit Gonzo" src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2009/05/es1tGHY7R00.jpg"/>

Just a reminder that we'll be live from the Indianapolis 500, the greatest spectacle in racing this weekend. With a crowd capacity of 400,000 around the 2.5 mile oval and untold hoards tailgating outside, we'll be covering the ins-and-outs of this mind-bogglingly huge festival of speed. Details below. More »

2010 Chevy Camaro Is The New Indy 500 Pace Car

Ray Wert — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Indy 500 Camaro Pace Car was unveiled yesterday and yes, it's a 2010 Chevy Camaro. The new mullet-mobile gets a little-less-yellow of a paint job than the 2009 Daytona 500 Pace Car. Thank god. More »