In celebration of the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame is celebrating an annual tradition that began with Indianapolis Motor Speedway co-founder, Carl Fisher.

Fisher chose to start the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 with a flying, rather than standing, start. Being a dealer of Stoddard-Dayton automobiles, Fisher chose that brand for pace car duties in the inaugural race.

Thus began the tradition of pace cars in motorsports. Through 2015, the 500 has had 99 different pace cars, representing 27 different makes - from Buick to Stutz.

The IMS Hall of Fame is celebrating this tradition by hosting a Pace Car Reunion to be held May 20-22, 2016, during qualifying weekend for this year’s Indy 500.

The Hall of Fame is asking owners of Indianapolis 500 pace cars, 500 Festival and track cars, replicas, and safety/support vehicles to submit their cars for participation in the event.

Entry fee is $100. Accepted entries will receive two bronze badge Indianapolis 500 credentials, exclusive hospitality access, a lap of the famous 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in their pace car, and a private reception in the IMS Hall of Fame.

Participation will be limited to 250 vehicles.

We’re looking for the following Chryslers:

• Imperial E-80 (1926)
• Imperial (1933)
• Newport Parade Phaeton (1941)
• New Yorker V-8 (1951)
• 300 (1963)
• LeBaron (1987)

The pace car models can be seen here:
Indy 500 Pace Cars and Drivers

For more information, contact Dianna Crain at dcrain @ brickyard.com or Tom Beeler at indianapolis500pacecar @ gmail.com.

More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page:
2016 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Reuinion
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1247315675284549/

We look forward to seeing your pacesetters at Indy this May!