Indianapolis 500 fans worldwide have debated for decades about which drivers are the greatest in the race’s glorious history. Now those voices will be heard and counted.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has created the “The Greatest 33” website to give fans the opportunity to pick their dream all-time starting lineup of 33 drivers for the Indianapolis 500 at thegreatest33.com from mid-March until early May. The top 33 drivers, based on fan input, will be announced in early May as “The Greatest 33.”
While the driver selection process opens officially in mid-March, fans are encouraged to visit thegreatest33.com now to register for early admission to the site, in addition to seeing a video glimpse of some of the most historic highlights in Indianapolis 500 history.
“There have been 732 drivers to race in the Indianapolis 500 since the inaugural event in 1911, so it’s going to be quite a fun challenge for fans from around the world to select ‘The Greatest 33,'” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. “We’re really excited about this program and its website, which will be an informative, interactive focal point.”
Fans will choose their Greatest 33 from a list of 100 drivers pre-selected by a panel of international motorsports media. Images, statistics and audio from IMS Historian Donald Davidson will be available for each of the 100 candidates, providing hours of entertaining content and helping fans make those tough final picks.
Voters will randomly have the opportunity to win prizes available at thegreatest33.com during the voting period. Fans also can share their personal Indianapolis 500 experiences and memories, including their thoughts about various drivers, at the site and easily share those messages through Facebook and Twitter.
“The Greatest 33” is a key fan interaction component of the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 celebration. “The Most Important Race in History” is scheduled for Sunday, May 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
For more information, visit thegreatest33.com.
[Source: Indianapolis Motor Speedway; photo credit: Autosports Marketing Assoc.]
Dan Gurney. He brought Ford and Colin Chapman together and had a string of great drives in his own cars.
AJ Foyt all the way
he’s the man…to bad his luck isn’t as good as an owner
Since legend Smokey Yunick wasn’t an Indy 500 shoe, my vote is Jim Rathmann, 1960 winner in Smokey developed machine with a wing which gave new meaning to cornering speeds… Yunick remains one of the true motoring racing innovators, developer, icon and character; plus, he quit NASCAR because of the France Family… And notice there were no original NASCAR innovators in the inaugural 2010 Hall of Shame… 2011 inductees include Bud Moore, that’s it
Roger Ward Multiple winner of the Indy 500.
Wilber Shaw has to be the greatest. Besides his three wins, without him there would be no Indianapolis Speedway today.
Mario Andretti. Great 69′ then Indy luck fell on others as Mario won in every other type of racing; 78′ F1 champ, Daytona in stock cars, Champ, and everything else!