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- Ford Thunderbird, Official Pace Car at Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1961 - The Indianapolis 500 features a "rolling start" in which entrants follow a pace car into the green flag. Officials chose each year's pace car based on design or engineering, or to celebrate major milestones. For 1961, Ford Motor Company supplied a gold-painted Thunderbird to commemorate the race's 50th anniversary. Winner A.J. Foyt took a victory lap in the car.
- May 30, 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Thunderbird, Official Pace Car at Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1961
The Indianapolis 500 features a "rolling start" in which entrants follow a pace car into the green flag. Officials chose each year's pace car based on design or engineering, or to celebrate major milestones. For 1961, Ford Motor Company supplied a gold-painted Thunderbird to commemorate the race's 50th anniversary. Winner A.J. Foyt took a victory lap in the car.
- Racing Poster, "Aerotech Oldsmobile Quad 4 Pace Car, 72nd Indianapolis 500," 1988 - Oldsmobile burnished its performance credentials in the 1980s with its four-valve, four-cylinder Quad 4 engine. The 1987 Aerotech used a modified Quad 4 when A.J. Foyt set a speed record of 267.399 mph with it. The 1988 Indianapolis 500 was paced by a Quad 4-powered Olds Cutlass Supreme. Both cars were produced under the leadership of Oldsmobile designer Ed Welburn.
- May 29, 1988
- Collections - Artifact
Racing Poster, "Aerotech Oldsmobile Quad 4 Pace Car, 72nd Indianapolis 500," 1988
Oldsmobile burnished its performance credentials in the 1980s with its four-valve, four-cylinder Quad 4 engine. The 1987 Aerotech used a modified Quad 4 when A.J. Foyt set a speed record of 267.399 mph with it. The 1988 Indianapolis 500 was paced by a Quad 4-powered Olds Cutlass Supreme. Both cars were produced under the leadership of Oldsmobile designer Ed Welburn.
- Ford Thunderbird, Official Pace Car at Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1961 - The Indianapolis 500 features a "rolling start" in which entrants follow a pace car into the green flag. Officials chose each year's pace car based on design or engineering, or to celebrate major milestones. For 1961, Ford Motor Company supplied a gold-painted Thunderbird -- gold to celebrate the race's 50th anniversary that year.
- May 30, 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Thunderbird, Official Pace Car at Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1961
The Indianapolis 500 features a "rolling start" in which entrants follow a pace car into the green flag. Officials chose each year's pace car based on design or engineering, or to celebrate major milestones. For 1961, Ford Motor Company supplied a gold-painted Thunderbird -- gold to celebrate the race's 50th anniversary that year.
- Pacing at the Start of the Indianapolis 500 Race, 1929 - After starting back in the sixth position at the 1929 Indianapolis 500, Ray Keech crossed the finish line first in his Miller race car. It is not surprising that Keech won in a Miller race car because Harry Miller was America's most innovative race car builder pre-World War II. Miller's vehicles dominated Indianapolis races from 1918-1930.
- May 30, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Pacing at the Start of the Indianapolis 500 Race, 1929
After starting back in the sixth position at the 1929 Indianapolis 500, Ray Keech crossed the finish line first in his Miller race car. It is not surprising that Keech won in a Miller race car because Harry Miller was America's most innovative race car builder pre-World War II. Miller's vehicles dominated Indianapolis races from 1918-1930.
- Ford "999" Race Car and Indianapolis 500 Pace Car on the Ford Test Track, April 1953 - Ford Motor Company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1953 and was invited to provide the pace car for that year's Indianapolis 500. Six weeks before the race, William Clay Ford and Ken Schuntz posed on the company's Dearborn test track with the pace car, a 1953 Ford Sunliner, and the "999," a race car built by Henry Ford in 1902.
- April 01, 1953
- Collections - Artifact
Ford "999" Race Car and Indianapolis 500 Pace Car on the Ford Test Track, April 1953
Ford Motor Company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1953 and was invited to provide the pace car for that year's Indianapolis 500. Six weeks before the race, William Clay Ford and Ken Schuntz posed on the company's Dearborn test track with the pace car, a 1953 Ford Sunliner, and the "999," a race car built by Henry Ford in 1902.
- Race Cars at the Start of the 1958 Indianapolis 500 - Race cars head down the straightaway in front of the grandstands at the start of the 1958 Indianapolis 500. Jimmy Bryan would win the 200 lap, 500 mile racing classic. The 1958 race would also be remembered for a first lap, 15-car pileup that killed one driver.
- May 30, 1958
- Collections - Artifact
Race Cars at the Start of the 1958 Indianapolis 500
Race cars head down the straightaway in front of the grandstands at the start of the 1958 Indianapolis 500. Jimmy Bryan would win the 200 lap, 500 mile racing classic. The 1958 race would also be remembered for a first lap, 15-car pileup that killed one driver.
- Mercury Pace Car Starting the 1957 Indianapolis 500 Race - This photograph shows the Mercury pace car at the start of the 1957 Indianapolis 500. Pace cars head the pack of race cars for the first unscored lap. They pick up speed around the track before pulling off the course. Racers used this lap to warm up their cars' engines and tires before speeding off on a "rolling start."
- May 01, 1957
- Collections - Artifact
Mercury Pace Car Starting the 1957 Indianapolis 500 Race
This photograph shows the Mercury pace car at the start of the 1957 Indianapolis 500. Pace cars head the pack of race cars for the first unscored lap. They pick up speed around the track before pulling off the course. Racers used this lap to warm up their cars' engines and tires before speeding off on a "rolling start."
- Ford Thunderbird, Official Pace Car at Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1961 - The Indianapolis 500 features a "rolling start" in which entrants follow a pace car into the green flag. Officials chose each year's pace car based on design or engineering, or to celebrate major milestones. For 1961, Ford Motor Company supplied a gold-painted Thunderbird -- gold to celebrate the race's 50th anniversary that year.
- May 30, 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Thunderbird, Official Pace Car at Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1961
The Indianapolis 500 features a "rolling start" in which entrants follow a pace car into the green flag. Officials chose each year's pace car based on design or engineering, or to celebrate major milestones. For 1961, Ford Motor Company supplied a gold-painted Thunderbird -- gold to celebrate the race's 50th anniversary that year.