The walls are white, the track is grey, the grass is green, and the sky is blue... your job is to keep them all where they belong.
Johnny Rutherford's advice to Indy 500 rookies
I wasn't thinking, 'That's Eddie [Cheever] and he's in an Infiniti and so I need to beat him.' I was thinking, 'That's Eddie, and I want to kick his ass!'
Robbie Buhl, after winning at WDW in 2000
I'm tired of being nice about it. The fact is, grip created by aerodynamic downforce is our enemy... At the moment, the downforce is so great that it masks the handling and hurts the racing
Rick Mears on what's wrong with IndyCar, Motorsport.com, October 28th 2015
Any time I get to come to Indianapolis, any time I get to participate in the greatest spectacle in motor racing, it's a great day.
Paul Diatlovitch, Indy Bump Day 2007
I just kept focused, focused, focused, all day long, getting every corner perfect.
Helio Castroneves, St Pete's 2007
I think Briscoe and I had a pretty good race going on, but we got what we got.
Scott Dixon on losing the race and the championship, Homestead 2009
Everyone wants to pick a fight with me. Whatever.
Sage Karam on everyone wanting to pick a fight with him, IndyStar.com, August 3rd 2015
Brian Clauson's car got pretty beat up yesterday. It's black and blue all over
Justin Wilson on Brian Clauson's patchwork DW12, bump day, Indy 2012
I didn't leave. I was terminated.
Sebastien Bourdais on the flip side of the Coyne, NBCSports.com, November 22nd 2019
Andy Granatelli for as much as he put into the sport, especially at Indianapolis. I had to deal with that big kiss. I can still smell the garlic.
Mario Andretti on Andy Granatelli after the 1969 Indianapolis 500
F1 is for sissies, this is proper racing, you can quote me on that!
Dan Wheldon
I was going through there as hard as I could. It was for everything. It was for all the marbles.
Sam Hornish Jr, Indy 2006
It's the biggest race in the world. It's not supposed to be easy.
Marcus Ericsson on The Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 2023
Every podium tastes like glory and every victory more so.
Alex Palou on the calibre of competition in IndyCar, September 5th 2023, via Marca.com
When you tug at a guy in the pit lane, I think that is taking advantage of your gender, because it puts me in an awkward position.
Dan Wheldon on Danica Patrick, June 2007
To finish first you must first finish.
Rick Mears
Will he get through?
Where is he?
Where is he?
There he is!
Tom Carnegie on A.J. Foyt, 1967
This is just an excellent race and to be a part of the history, I'm really grateful for that.
Roger Yasukawa, Indy 2007
Good morning from the start/finish line at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Tom Carnegie
I never would've had my opportunity to race at Indy if it weren't for Tony George and the IRL.
Tony Stewart, May 2007
I miss my fans so much, you have no idea. I think I appreciate them more then I ever did.
Sarah Fisher, August 2006
I was going good but then I slipped in my own drool.
Helio Castroneves on the return to road courses
-
James Hinchcliffe on bumping at Indy, May 19th 2018
I'm a little rough around the edges like him and I say what I feel, there's no B.S. and that's one of the things I've always admired about him.
Paul Tracy on AJ Foyt, May 2009
If he wins this race with what he has to work with, they ought to name this place after him.
John Barnes on Sam Hornish Jr, indy 2003
It's like a reunion to come back here every May. I've never retired. I always say, "I'm not done yet."
Parnelli Jones, Indy 2007
My picture isn't everywhere, but people recognize me. I'm telling you, it's the nose.
Tony Kanaan, May 2007
"Many people always ask me why I sign off 'Until we meet again.' Because goodbye is so final. Goodbye, Dan Wheldon."
Marty Reid, Las Vegas, October 16th 2011
I remember the first year I raced here, I took pictures of the entrance. I was taking pictures. I hoped one day to race here in May.
Fernando Alonso on Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 3rd 2017
Some people strap on their helmet and lose their brains.
Graham Rahal on the carnage at Toronto, July 2011
Howard and me set the first and third fastest times of the day, and we both got beaten to grid slot 33 by a kid in Methodist Hospital with a smoking wreck of a car. The magic of Indy, huh?
Paul Tracy, Indy Bump Day 2010
I can tell you one thing, with 50 to go, I thought we were going to go home and close our tent.
Roger Penske, Indy 2006
I think Danica's pretty aggressive in our cars. I mean, you know especially if you catch her at the right time of the month, she might be trading plenty of paint out there!
Ed Carpenter, July 2006
She was acting like a spoiled brat. I don't respect that. I tried to step away. She kept grabbing on me like a dog that wanted to bite my ankles.
Dan Wheldon on Danica Patrick, June 2007
It's a Top-10 but after finishing here fifth last year nothing less than that would really be satisfying because you always want more.
Ed Carpenter after the 2009 Indianapolis 500
Antony! Yer losin' 3 seconds a lap! Now get yer foot into it, I'm not gonna tell ya again!!
AJ Foyt, Chicagoland 2004
I think it's is a long putt, so I think we're safe for a while.
Roger Penske on the possibility of F1 returning to Long Beach, April 2014
It was so scary for me. I don't know what else to say. I don't know what happened but it felt like my front and rear wings were upside down.
Marco Andretti, Kansas 2007
This place isn't easy. It's not supposed to be easy. This place starts the 33 fastest, best-prepared cars. Obviously, I missed.
Paul Diatlovitch, Indy Bump Day 2007
The Indy 500 is the biggest race in the world. I don't think it's even debatable. It is.
Dan Wheldon
I've never been so happy to be in last place.
Ryan Hunter Reay, Indy 500 Bump Day 2009
Speed on ovals is insane. Currently re-calibrating my eyes.
Jimmie Johnson on his first oval test at Texas Motor Speedway, via Twitter, August 30th 2020
Cheever had a problem with my dad, he had a problem with me, and now he's taking it out on Marco.
Michael Andretti, Watkins Glen 2006
-
Fernando Alonso on the difference between an IndyCar and an F1 car, May 3rd 2017
The Indy 500 was the defining stage of my career.
Mario Andretti
I bet you'd love to drive one, you just wouldn't want to crash one!
Charlie Kimball to Dale Jr. via Twitter, Pocono, August 23rd 2015
The Indianapolis 500 is about the fastest 33 Indy car drivers going for one prize. If they happen to come from America, that's great.
Tony Stewart, May 2007
There comes a time in a race where money doesn't matter, living doesn't matter. Winning is the only thing that matters, and so when you go into those corners, it's winning that tells all.
Al Unser Jr.
The things that play on your mind the most are the ones that just got away.
Buddy Lazier on the Indy 500
Do you still remember how to celebrate these things?!
Tim Cindric on the radio to Will Power, Detroit, 5th June 2016