The Official Blog of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The 2011 500 Festival princesses represent 11 Indiana colleges and universities and 24 cities and towns across the state. The young women were selected from 278 applicants based on communication skills, poise, academic performance, and community and volunteer involvement. The 500 Festival has narrowed the field to 33 princesses who will serve as ambassadors for the 2011 500 Festival.

In this blog series we will introduce you to the 500 Festival Princesses, share what they are doing in Indiana communities and their tips for the month of May. We will also share their dream line-up of 33 drivers from TheGreatest33.com. Want to earn bragging rights by sharing your line-up with friends and family too? Be sure to click the “share” feature after finalizing and submitting your line-up!

With  25 days remaining until the Indy 500, we’re pleased to introduce you to Ashlyn and Fayeann!

Name: Ashlyn Ackerman

Hometown: Jasper, Indiana

School: Ball State University

Number of years you have attended the Indy 500? Never been!  The 500 Festival Parade? Also a new experience for me!

Your tips for someone attending the Indy 500 for the first time: Because I grew up in southern Indiana, over three hours away from Indy, it was never a tradition in my family to make the trip to Speedway for the race each Memorial Day. I’m most excited to experience the 500 and see what everyone has been raving about! I know that last year was the hottest race in history, so staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen is a must. If anyone has any tips for me as a first timer, I would love to hear them!

Your tips for someone attending the 500 Festival Parade for the first time: Because it’s the third largest parade in America, I’m sure arriving along the parade route to claim your seat early is a must. The biggest tip that the princesses have heard is if you know someone in the parade (and want them to see you!) be sure to bring a big sign!

This is what I am doing in my community as a representative of the Princess Program: In my hometown and college community, I am partnering with organizations I have a personal connection with. At Ball State, I’m doing outreaches with College Mentors for Kids, the Muncie Children’s Museum, and various schools and nursing homes in the area. At home in Jasper, I’m volunteering at the Dubois County Museum, speaking to elementary and high school students, as well as promoting the event to the local Kiwanis Club. Additionally, I want to show my support of racing by singing the National Anthem and passing out trophies at the Bloomington Speedway. Finally, I’m trying to support my fellow princess by attending their outreaches and helping out with all the 500 Festival events that I can!

My Greatest 33 Line-up and what’s worth checking out at TheGreatest33.com: On my greatest 33, I chose many rookies who did incredible things at the race. Like me, they experienced their first Indianapolis 500 in a big way and made their mark on its history! TheGreatest33.com was a big help in picking my drivers, because I’m not a racing buff. One driver I wish I could have included in my line up is Spike Gehlhausen, also a young rookie of the year, from my hometown of Jasper, Indiana. What a race it would be if all these drivers actually got to compete together!

This May, I’m most looking forward to seeing: The Pace Car reunion!

Let us know when you spot the 500 Festival Princesses in your community!

Name: Fayeann Hurley

Hometown: Brownstown, IN

School: Ball State University

Number of years you have attended the Indy 500? This is my very first time!   The 500 Festival Parade? This will be my first time as well!

Your tips for someone attending the Indy 500 for the first time: This is my very first time attending the Indianapolis 500!

Your tips for someone attending the 500 Festival Parade for the first time: This is also my first time attending the 500 Festival Parade, and what better a time than when I am serving as an ambassador to the Indy 500 events!

This is what I am doing in my community as a representative of the Princess Program: As a representative of the Princess Program I have planned and scheduled various events throughout my community. I have created a multi-media presentation to showcase the history and fun facts about the Indianapolis 500. I have been sharing this with elementary schools from Jackson and Jennings County. I have also made an Indianapolis 500 Jeopardy game to share with local nursing homes. In addition, I will be appearing and participating in events at the Brownstown Speedway where we will be making a video to submit for the Back Home Again in Indiana Contest.

I am hosting an after school program at Hayden Elementary with 4-6th grade girls. Here I will speak about self-esteem and proper etiquette; we will also have race day snacks. I am volunteering at Girls Incorporated where I will do various crafts including making princess sashes. Lastly I am volunteering at an event titled Princess for a Day, which is a fundraiser and silent auction benefiting Flashes of Hope. “Flashes of Hope is a nonprofit organization that changes the way children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses see themselves through the gift of photography and raises money for pediatric cancer research.”

My Greatest 33 Line-up: To see Fayeann’s Greatest 33 Line-up click here.

This May, I’m most looking forward to: The Back Home Again in Indiana Contest!

Arie Luyendyk, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner

Race fan Dan Johnson never has driven in the Indianapolis 500, but he shares something in common with two-time Indy winner Arie Luyendyk.

Johnson and Luyendyk both live in Arizona, and they both are pumped up about the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible that was unveiled as the 2011 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car and will be auctioned Saturday night at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Ariz.

2011 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Awaits Auction at Barrett-Jackson

The top bidder will have the opportunity to drive the car during a parade lap in front of the field of 33 starters shortly before the green flag flies at “The Most Important Race In History” on Sunday, May 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

SPEED will televise the Camaro auction between 9-11 p.m. (ET) Jan. 22 during its 11 consecutive hours of live coverage from 2 p.m.-1 a.m., with Indianapolis 500 winners and speed milestone holders Luyendyk and Tom Sneva scheduled to drive the Camaro Convertible Pace Car onto the auction stage.

Chevrolet will donate full proceeds of the auction to the David Foster Foundation, a charity devoted to supporting families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants. David Foster, the 15-time Grammy-winning music producer and songwriter, founded the organization in his native Canada.

Listen to Johnson, from Mesa, Ariz., and Luyendyk talk about their excitement about the Camaro Convertible Pace Car and the auction Saturday night!

[VIDEO]: Arie Luyendyk Excited for 2011 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Auction

2011 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Awaits Auction at Barrett-Jackson

Pace Lap of the 1950 Indianapolis 500

Pace Lap of the 1950 Indianapolis 500

Gentlemen, Start your Engines- At the 1963 Indy 500

Gentlemen, Start your Engines- At the 1963 Indy 500

Donald Davidson

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Historian Donald Davidson has been the expert on the history of the Racing Capital of the World since he arrived in Central Indiana in the mid-1960s. Now 2010 Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductee Davidson is answering your questions periodically in this blog!

Q: When did the “500″ first go to the three-abreast start?

– Ted Crawford

A: The answer is 1921. For the first two years—1911 and 1912—the cars lined up five abreast, although in the first year, the Pace Car sat in the spot known as the pole position, with four cars next to it and then five per row behind that. In 1912, five cars were on the front row with the Pace Car out in front. It was then four per row from 1913 until 1920, with the tradition of three abreast having remained unbroken ever since 1921.

Q: I have read in different places that Howdy Wilcox, the 1919 winner, and Howdy Wilcox, the runner-up in 1932, were father and son, that they were uncle/nephew and that they were not related at all. Which is correct?

– Jason Deming

A: As strange as it may seem, they were not related at all. By the time the “other” Howdy Wilcox began to come to the fore in Indiana dirt track racing in the late 1920s, the immediate family of the 1919 winner, Howard Samuel Wilcox, suspected the newcomer might simply be using the name in order to capitalize on the immense popularity of the champion, who by then was deceased. In fact, Howdy Wilcox II, as he was dubbed by the media, was born Howard Omar Wilcox on Feb. 20, 1905, which is before the “original” Howdy had even begun to race. Howard S. Wilcox Jr., the son of the 1919 winner, never did race but was a prominent “500″ and United States Auto Club official. At one time or another serving as the head of the Indianapolis Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana National Guard and the Five Hundred Festival Committee, he is the man who, in 1950, created Indiana University’s Little 500 bicycle race.

Click here to ask your questions to Donald about the people and races that have formed a century of rich history at IMS. Include your complete name and city and state/country of residence.

Send us your questions, and keep your eyes on this blog for answers to selected questions from Donald!

1955: Jerry Hoyt, Jack McGrath & Tony Bettenhausen

Donald Davidson explains the 1955 Front Row

1964 Parade Lap- Prior to fatal crash involving Eddie Sachs & Dave MacDonald

1964 Parade Lap

The drivers prepped the car…

…and today was the day, reigning Indy 500 champion, Dario Franchitti gave it away!  The lucky winner was Bruce Barhydt from Apex, N.C. who has been coming to the Indianapolis 500 for 43 years now! Barhydt won the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 Pace Car No. 1  in a random drawing among fans who reordered or applied for 2011 Indianapolis 500 tickets at www.imstix.com between May 31 and June 14.

Winner Bruce Barhydt with Dario Franchitti

We got to ask Bruce and his wife Barbara a few questions about their experiences at the track and what it felt like to be the new owners of this great car–Here is what they had to say:

How long have you been coming to the track?

Bruce and Barbara Barhydt have been coming to the track since 1967. “We sit in the same seats every year, right across from the pole.” In fact, the first year they came to the Indianapolis 500 their trip involved a camaro- “The first year we drove down in a 1967 Camaro…butternut yellow…it was the first year they made them!” Such a coincidence considering today they would be leaving with one!

What are you going to do with your new camaro? Daily driver?
“It will be a lot of things but not a daily driver!” In fact, the Barhydt’s had recently purchased a new car 3 weeks prior to finding out they won the sweepstakes- “We couldn’t believe it!”

How will you celebrate next year’s 100th Anniversary?
The Barhydt’s already had a plan in mind: “We are going to drive the car back for the race! We also want to go to the 500 Festival Parade, we’ve never been before.”

Are you excited to drive the car home now?
“Yes, we are stopping in Auburn, IN, [where they used to live] to visit our friends. I think we are getting interviewed by the news too.”

And finally, do you think Dario will become the IZOD IndyCar Series Champion?
Bruce was unsure. “I stayed up to watch Motegi [Indy Japan 300] live and I thought Dario would have done better! I think Will Power will have to seriously mess up now for him [Dario] to win.”

Either way, they wanted Dario to sign the dashboard of their new car (which he gladly did!) and enjoyed posing for pictures on the Yard of Bricks. See more pictures of today’s action here. And get your tickets  for the 2011 Indianapolis 500, the 100th anniversary of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” to be held on Sunday, May 29, 2011. Order here: imstix.com

Donald Davidson

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Historian Donald Davidson has been the expert on the history of the Racing Capital of the World since he arrived in Central Indiana in the mid-1960s. Now 2010 Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductee Davidson is answering your questions periodically in this blog!

Q: I would like to know what was the official Pace Car for the 1930 Indianapolis 500 – if there was any Pace Car.
—Bernard Boucher

A: Indeed there was a Pace Car in 1930, just as there has been for every “500″ since the inaugural in 1911. In fact, while the concept may have been employed previously at minor motorized events – a holdover from bicycle racing – it is believed that the 1911 “500″ was the first major event anywhere in the world at which a passenger car was used to lead the field around to the flagman for a mass rolling start. The 1930 Pace Car was a beautiful L-29 Cord, driven by Wade Morton, a former driver (he shared Phil Shafer’s third-placed Duesenberg in the 1925 “500″) who had an association with Cord.

Q: What was the last year that Ray Harroun came to the race?
—David J. Blythe

A: We believe the iconic 1911 winner was coming virtually until the end of his life, although his last few visits were mostly without fanfare. Passing away on Jan. 19, 1968, exactly one week after his 89th birthday, he lived his final years in a trailer court on the south side of Anderson, Ind. On the morning of the 1961 race, at the age of 82, he marked the 50th anniversary of his legendary win by driving a ceremonial lap of honor in the very Marmon “Wasp” which had carried him to victory. Typically, his wife would drive him down from Anderson, usually on the first day of qualifications, and they would park in the infield as close to the fence as they could get. He remained an engineer and innovator to the end. We wonder how many of the neighboring revelers realized the identity of the elderly, professor-like gentleman who was sitting in the passenger seat of his car, marveling as Parnelli Jones qualified the turbine.

Click here to ask your questions to Donald about the people and races that have formed a century of rich history at IMS. Include your complete name and city and state/country of residence.

Send us your questions, and keep your eyes on this blog for answers to selected questions from Donald!