The revered roadsters that wrote Indianapolis 500 history during the 1950s and ’60s will be featured on Legends Day with a celebration of the Speedway’s Roadster Era, all presented by Firestone, on Saturday, May 26, the day before this year’s 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.
The day’s activities will include a roadster display and track laps by many of the roadsters on hand, all in honor of the dozen years, from 1953 to 1964, when drivers in roadsters won every Indy 500—on Firestone tires.
Nine different drivers secured their Indy 500 legends with victories in roadsters during the era, a roster that includes Bill Vukovich, Bob Sweikert, Pat Flaherty Sam Hanks, Jimmy Bryan, Rodger Ward, Jim Rathmann, A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones. Chassis designers and builders such as Quin Epperly, Frank Kurtis, Eddie Kuzma, Lujie Lesovsky, George Salih and A.J. Watson also became historic figures due to their roadster creations during the era.
“Few race cars of the Indianapolis 500 created more magical memories and nostalgia than the roadsters,” said IMS President J. Douglas Boles. “The race reached an even higher level of interest due to the epic races by these evocative machines and the legendary names that drove and built them.”
Beyond the activities honoring the Roadster Era, autograph sessions with both the full starting field for the 102nd running of the race and legendary Indianapolis 500 drivers are scheduled for Legends Day — along with the traditional Public Drivers Meeting at 10:30 a.m. General Admission is $10, with children 15 and under admitted free with an adult ticket holder. For further information please visit www.IMS.com
