The Official Blog of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

’58 Pon-Bon! First year of the ‘big’ GM body styles. Nice!
I did not realize that the Detroit shunning of their best advertising ‘vehicles’ extended to USAC Pace Cars as well.
Was that still the case in 1970 (?) when Eldon Palmer was allowed to wheel the Pace Car in return for supplying the fleet of Dodges? PS When I was a kid that little house was always my dream home… Location, location, location! lol

Does the Speedway still have that old entry way somewhere buried in storage? I really liked the History of that gateway.
Love the daily Photo stories

My father, Larry Risher was the General Manager for Arrow Pontiac which was owned by John W. Hedges of Hedges Pontiac. The country was in a recession and none of the factories wanted to furnish cars that year. Dad call the newspaper and announced that Arrow Pontiac woud furnish the Pace Car! At first Mr. Hedges was upset but when he found out of the great publicity it would generate he change the sponsership from Arrow to his namesake; Hedges Pontiac. The man behind the wheel is Sam Hanks, (former race winner and at that time track director) J.W. Hedges behind him, and Tony Hulman on the right side of the back seat.