IMS Hall of Fame Announces New Exhibit
21 November 1997
"INDY'S FABULOUS 15" EXHIBIT OPENS SUNDAY AT HALL OF FAME MUSEUM For Immediate Release INDIANAPOLIS, November 20, 1997 - "Indy's Fabulous 15", a new exhibit honoring the multiple winners of the Indianapolis 500, opens at noon Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Hall of Fame Museum. The 3,000-square-foot display, located in the museum's gallery, will feature items, photos and memorabilia from the multiple winners and their families as well as other materials from the Speedway's own collection. "To know 646 drivers have taken the green flag at the 500 since 1911, and that only 15 have won it more than once, is to appreciate the truly awesome nature of the achievement," said Ralph Kramer, director of the museum. The multiple winners are Tommy Milton (1921, 1923), Louis Meyer (1928, 1933, 1936), Wilbur Shaw (1937, 1939, 1940), Mauri Rose (1941, 1947, 1948), Bill Vukovich (1954, 1955), Rodger Ward (1959, 1962), A.J. Foyt Jr. (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977), Bobby Unser (1968, 1975, 1981), Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987), Gordon Johncock (1973, 1982), Johnny Rutherford (1974, 1976, 1980), Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991), Emerson Fittipaldi (1989, 1993), Arie Luyendyk (1990, 1997) and Al Unser Jr. (1992, 1994). Heading the list of first-time displays at the museum is the Penske/Chevy Indy V8 that Mears drove to his fourth "500" victory, on loan from Penske Racing. Ten other winning cars which carried multiple winners to Victory Lane are also featured. Among other items are: --The sweater which Meyer wore in winning the "500" in 1928 and the plaque given to him by the American Dairy Association when he started the tradition of drinking milk in Victory Lane, on loan from Meyer's family. --Johncock's "Baby Borg" from 1982, the replica of the Borg-Warner Trophy that is given to winning drivers, on loan from Johncock along with other memorabilia. --A special painting of Milton. --Driver's suits and helmets from Mears, Unser Jr., Fittipaldi and Luyendyk. --The original index cards kept by late Speedway historian Bob Laycock on the multiple drivers of his era. --A life-size photo of Vukovich in the garage near exhaustion after winning the 1954 edition of the "500" in blistering heat. --Rose's original Speedway biographical questionnaire. --Foyt's legendary bandana and gloves, displayed for the first time outside of a trophy case. --A display of actual newspapers headlining the drivers' victories. "The display will be up for at least a year," Kramer said. "It's a dramatic departure from the kind of displays people have come to expect here." Additionally on Sunday, the Speedway's photo department and the museum's library will be open, featuring materials on the 15 drivers. A private ceremony will take place Sunday morning to launch the exhibit prior to the public unveiling. Admission to the museum is $2 for adults, and children under age 16 are admitted free. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed Christmas Day). …IMS97-26...
