The Official Blog of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Ok, it is a job, a hectic job sometimes at that, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. As Director of Photography for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the INDYCAR Series through the years, I have seen countless races, travelled the world and got to do many things in my career. I’ve met many people from all walks of life from movie personalities, the sports world and world leaders.

Some stand outs are Presidents Ronald Reagan (whom I was named after) and Jimmy Carter (before he was President), Ex-Beatle George Harrison who was contemplating coming to Indy to be on my staff for 1994, Arnold Palmer (who chipped golf balls over my head as he filmed a Pennzoil Commercial here at Indy), Mohammad Ali, Payton Manning, Medal of Honor winner, Col. Bruce Crandall (who waved the Green Flag at the Indianapolis 500 this year) and countless others.

I’ve walked through the pits with Joe Walsh, guitarist for the Eagles, been hit with the green flag at the start of the race by Jack Nicholson (and the one rule I tell the honorary starters before the start of each race is “…don’t hit the photographer!!!”).

I will have to give the year 2003 a nod as one of my most memorable years. 1st in April, I rode the 2 seat Indy Car with Ed Carpenter driving, around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Then, a couple of months later, I was allowed to drive a Competition class rail dragster for 6 passes at Muncie Dragway 1/8th mile strip (yes, at speed). Then a test at Indianapolis Raceway Park (it was still called that then) for the Indy Racing Experience in a single seat Indy Car.

Then, at the 2nd Texas race, I was afforded a chance to ride in the Klein Tool Stunt Plane on a practice run doing all of the stunts they do, prior to the pre-race show. The pilot would not let me bring a camera in case I passed out (which I did not). It was the time of my life and I didn’t get sick or dizzy!!! All in all, a great year.

Who says you can’t have fun at your job?

On Saturday, June 3rd, 1978, one week after the Indianapolis 500 I was looking forward to a well-deserved weekend off after my 2nd race as Director of Photography at IMS.  I was up early and headed down to meet a couple of friends and head to a new motorcycle shop to look at some accessories for my latest ride, a recently purchased Honda Gold Wing.

On I-65 as I approached the West Street exit, I was suddenly “flying” through the air after being hit by a car travelling southbound on the Interstate at a high rate of speed.  The “hit & run” driver never slowed down and as I rolled and tumbled , the cars behind me dodged me and when I stopped, I was conscious but realized my left leg and ankle were shattered.

Honda Gold Wing

I rolled to the median and before I stopped, a “Good Samaritan” who had witnessed my plight from the northbound lane was at my side almost instantly.  He said he was a Doctor and to lie still until he checked me out.  Upon removing my helmet, he recognized me from the track.  We had been introduced at the race, as a friend of the Valvoline photographer and a photographer himself.

Photo taken by Indianapolis Star photographer Bob Doeppers

He was on his way to work at Methodist Hospital and was at my side when I arrived by ambulance. With the extensive leg damage the car did, the Doctor in charge felt the only way to proceed was amputation.  The Doctor from the scene said he was familiar with me and felt he could save the leg due to new procedures he had studied at a recent seminar. He was given a 5% or less chance to save my leg.  He did his magic and with several operations and lots of time in casts, the leg was miraculously saved by time of the 1979 Indy 500, I was able to walk on it again.

The Doctor would become the famous Racing Doctor, Dr. Terry Trammell, and I was his 1st “at scene” customer!  He was not able to immediately take credit for the work for me because he was in his last few weeks as a Doctor in Resident.  Thanks to him, I have my leg and while it is not pretty, it is still quite useful.  Dr. Trammell went on to repair the limbs of IndyCar Drivers like Danny Ongais, AJ Foyt, Gordon Johncock and many more after their racing accidents and is still active with INDYCAR.

Dr. Trammell

Early in the month on May 7, 1987 while shooting photos in the pits, I ran into Al Unser Sr. I asked him if he had any prospects  for the month and he said he did not and he needed a job…would I hire him. We laughed and as I walked off, I had an idea.  I went back to my office, grabbed a small plastic consumer camera and made him a name tag that stated he was now an “Official Indy 500 Photographer” and set out to find him again.

As he stood in the pits with a group of drivers and officials, I gave him his “Official Photographer” nametag and his new camera and assignments.  I think I remember Al Jr getting the biggest laugh out of the whole situation.

Ron McQueeny and Al Unser Sr. together in 1987

That same day, shortly after Danny Ongais’ crash in practice, Al’s career as an “official Photographer” came to an end as Roger Penske called on him to replace the injured Ongais in the #25 PC 16.  While the car that Ongais crashed was too bad to run, the team had to get an ’86 March that was being used by the team as a show car in a lobby of a commercial establishment and bring it to the track.

Unser contesting the 1987 Indianapolis 500

The car was entered but not at the track until that point. Al qualified the car 20th and on the start, was just in front of a spinning Josele Garza who came within a fraction of an inch taking out Al in the process.  Al drove his typical smart race and won and became the only “Official Photographer” to win the race.

Unser wins!

Over 4.5 million photos reside in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Photo archives at the Hall of Fame Museum. In the next few weeks, I will extract some of the most fascinating shots to share the story and provide insight to the “behind the scenes” of how they were taken.

I remember it like it was yesterday…..The buzz around the month of May and the opening of the track at Indianapolis. Several exciting things were happening around the track that year. The fact that a lap of 200 mph in qualifying was almost a foregone conclusion, Janet Guthrie was in a capable car and would be the 1st to make the race.

Tom Sneva at the 1977 Indianapolis 500

It was my 1st year as “Director of Photography” after being an IMS Staff Photographer for the past 5 years. Before the month started out Gordon Johncock had been clocked at a tick over 200 in March tire tests on the freshly repaved Indianapolis Motor Speedway (yes I had to check with Donald Davidson on these facts) and during the week of practice before the Qualification weekend, AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti and Johnny Rutherford all did “unofficial” 200 MPH laps.

When Pole Day came Tom Sneva was the 1st and only driver to eclipse the “magic number” during qualifying. He was greeted by local sponsor, Phil Hedback of Bryant Heating and Cooling Company with 200 silver dollars which he dumped into Tom’s upturned helmet. This had been done in 1962 when Parnelli Jones was the 1st driver to qualify at 150 MPH. Later, Mr. Hedback put 188 (her qualifying speed) silver dollars into her helmet as the 1st female to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.

Janet Guthrie at the 1977 Indianapolis 500

How did they top all of that excitement? By AJ Foyt becoming the only driver up to that date to win the race 4 times. While Gordy Johncock ran away with the race, his car failed and AJ won the day. Tony Hulman, for the first time since he owned the track rode on the victory lap with Foyt. It would unfortunately be Tony’s last 500 as he passed away that October.

A.J. Foyt takes his Victory Lap in 1977

After a few days of shooting for both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR with the AARWBA Banquet during which Dario Franchitti won the “Jerry Titus Award” for the most votes from the media for the 1st Team, the next evening shooting the “Night at the Museum” function for INDYCAR Ministries which was a fun event.  Tuesday’s State of IndyCar was an all-day shoot with images of the drivers and owners prior to the event, photos of the event itself AND photos of the reception afterwards.

Randy Bernard and Jeff Belskus at the State of IndyCar

Yesterday I travelled to the Millionair Terminal to shoot the send-off for the Indianapolis 500 Centennial Tour with drivers from INDYCAR as well as former drivers like Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford and Al Unser Jr going to Europe and the Middle East Military bases to entertain and salute the troops protecting our freedom.  Photos taken at these and other events will go on our IMS and INDYCAR web sites as well as the media sites for use on other web sites around the world.  Not many days go by when I am not asked to shoot some function, dignitary or display pertinent to the happening in and around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or INDYCAR.

Indy 500 Centennial Tour Send-Off

Taking the two-seater to the troops

We have 4.5 + million images, most of which need to be converted to digital, and my staff here in the Hall of Fame 2nd floor offices are busy scanning.  In the past few weeks, we have had the announcement of the new commemorative stamp depicting the 1911 Indy 500 winner, the Marmon Wasp, the Lego replica of the Indianapolis 500 track complete with streakers in the infield, the new satellite team of Ganassi Racing with Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimball as the drivers had their announcement here and of course the Santa Claus visit last month.  For us in Photo, there is never an “off season” and I for one am glad of it.

In what is approaching a 40 year career at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I have seen a lot of snow from my 2nd floor office in the Hall of Fame Museum.  In November of 1977, my 1st year as Director of Photography the snow came early that season and I was ready to go out and get cold and wet.  Early in the morning the day after the 12+ inch snowfall, I trekked to the top of the B Grandstands for my 1st  “IMS in snow” scene. The day was bright and clear and the temperature was well below zero with a brisk wind blowing in from the north.  Much to my dismay,  a car had already been on the track and the scene was not “perfect.” Of course I shot it anyway and after processing the film (remember film?), I became aware that the tracks in the snow showed the depth and the photo was not a loss after all. That became one of the all-time great sellers in the IMS Photo Shop, especially during a hot summer.

1977 Snow at the Track

In early 1983, a PR contact from the STP Corporation saw that we had a heavy snowfall and called the Patrick Racing shop and asked them to deliver the 1982 winning car of Gordon Johncock to me at the Speedway for a photo.  The car was delivered by noon and again, out in the snow I went.  We positioned the car in front of the Control Tower.

At the last moment, I asked one of the mechanics to throw Gordy’s helmet on and jump in the car.  THE SHOT WENT AROUND THE WORLD thanks to the STP PR machine!

1982 Indy 500 winning car of Gordon Johncock Snow Shoot

In 2008, one of my employees wanted to duplicate the shot with another car.  We went to the IMS Storage area and looked for an easy, modern era car to shoot in the 13 inches of show that had fallen the previous night. We couldn’t find a “politically correct” car ( one with proper sponsorship for a Christmas card) that would be easy to get out of the museum.  I called the Indy Racing Experience and arranged a “Show Car” with IndyCar logos.  As a joke, I requested the museum bring the 1911 Marmon Wasp out for a quick photo…….just wanting to get a “Sure, we will bring the most important race car in our collection out in the snow today….ARE YOU CRAZY????, reaction.  As I was setting up the “Show Car”, my cell phone rang and Ellen Bireley, Hall of Fame Museum Director said the Wasp was “on it’s way to me”.  To my surprise, the car was on the way and a great photo session was complete.

The Marmon Wasp Snow Shoot

Santa’s recent visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was another one of those “let’s play in the snow” days.  Santa (the REAL one) was coming to IMS thanks to Macy’s and he would be practicing for the Christmas Eve altitude by going up on the top of the Pagoda with 2 of his elves, Holly Berry and Peppermint.  Camera in hand, off I go in 0 wind chill and 8+ inches of snow on the track to document the proceedings.  After the Altitude test, Santa and company decided to “Kiss the  Bricks”, the famous IMS tradition.  Concern about lips freezing to the surface of the bricks was voiced but no worries for Santa…. Mission accomplished!  So, if you notice a little more red in Santa’s cheeks (and especially his lips), you’ll know the whole story!…..

After a visit to the Museum to greet several children, off he went to get ready for the Christmas Eve trip around the world.

A Brickyard Tradition: Kissing the Bricks

The IMS Photo Digitization Project is a partnership between Indiana University Libraries and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to preserve historically significant photographs for the enjoyment of future generations. On a basic level, the labor-intensive project involves scanning decomposing images and adding them to a digital archive. Tagging each image with Metadata allows the IMS photo staff to quickly locate specific images for promotional and editorial use– as well for personal enjoyment by fans. Mary Ellen Loscar, Assistant to the Director of Photography, takes fans inside the Digitization project.

We are about to ramp up our efforts to digitize the negative images in the IMS Photo archives. We have slowly but surely been scanning images as needed but we are about to partner with University Library. With their knowledge of archiving and adding the metadata we will be able to start saving these images and making them more available to those who are interested in them.

Some of the older images are starting to deteriorate so this project really is a must. During the 1940’s and 50’s special chemicals used to develop film is now causing the negatives to bubble and crack. We can now scan these images and fix many of the defects with photo-editing software in order to save that image forever. So that is our starting point with the Digitization project, get to the bad ones first.

Damaged Photo from the 1952 Indy 500

Digitized Photo of the 1952 Indy 500

Once we get these images in digital form we will then post them to a photo vault for our fans to view. Did you know that you can come to the 2nd floor of the Museum and look at all of the images? I think it is a well kept secret for some, but you are welcome during our regular business hours. Come find the year you first came to the 500 or find a photo of your favorite driver. Remember we have 4 million!

Ron McQueeney is the Director of  Photographer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Below McQueeney highlights his favorite photos from a recent venture to the Firestone 550K Race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kaptain Robbie Knievel “Above the Law” Motorcycle Jump

With the heat of Indy and Texas behind us, let’s take a look at some of the fun things that I shot.  The Kaptain Robbie Knievel “Above the Law” Motorcycle jump is the second time I have been to one of his events there.  The first time I was in the flag stand. While I was very close to the action, the background was not very interesting.

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While most of the photo we take are shots we are assigned by the various entities we work for within the company, sometimes we are able to be creative and set up shots and other times we “stumble” into a scene that lends itself to shot that tells a story.  AT the 2002 Indy Car event at Nashville Superspeedway, AJ Foyt Racing’s Billy Boat had just won the pole for the event and we completed the photo shoot in Victory Circle with Boat and the team. As we headed back to the Press Room with the Pole Winner, I was walking beside him and someone yelled his name.  As he turned to the fan (and me), I snapped the photo of him and in the background was the scoring pylon with his car number and speed at the top in lights.  An impromptu shot turned into a memorable shot in a long career.

Billy Boat smiling

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