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

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

I'm the happiest guy on earth right now!

Rinus VeeKay on finishing 5th at the IMS Road Course, July 4th 2020

And here comes Max Crappis into the pits!

Paul Page, Michigan '99

The Indy 500 is one of the greatest events in the sport. Drivers all over the world know this. I belong there. Because I'm a racer.

Fernando Alonso on The Indy 500, The Players Tribune, May 18th 2017

I still have the passion to drive the hell out of it!

Juan Pablo Montoya on his motivation, NBCSports.com, July 12th 2016

I told him I'd follow him anywhere he went, as long as it was on the racetrack.

Sam Hornish Jr on Tomas Scheckter, Texas 2005

I hope all the fans out there were as excited about that race as I am. It was awesome doing so much passing. Racing can't get any better!

Graham Rahal on the Kentucky 300, August 2009

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

It looks so easy when you watch it on TV, but it's not.

Franck Perera on racing ovals, Homestead 2008

I came in not knowing what to expect. I basically fell in love with IndyCar.

Romain Grosjean on his rookie season, Laguna Seca, September 19th 2021

Hope you're all snug in your beds, while Indycars dance in your head...

Simon Pagenaud on insomnia, Twitter, 4:31 AM, July 23rd 2019

This is just an excellent race and to be a part of the history, I'm really grateful for that.

Roger Yasukawa, Indy 2007

You don't get too many times like that at the Indy 500 where you're out there and you have a chance to win the race right in front of everybody on the last lap.

Sam Hornish Jr, Indy 2006

Gentlemen, start your engines.

Wilbur Shaw

Now they've got competition and they are not talking about winning. I feel like they want to sit around and hold hands and sing. I want to win.

Chip Ganassi on Honda, St Petersberg, March 23rd 2013

It was a tough day – really disappointing... I guess it was a good day in reality.

Josef Newgarden on finishing 7th at the IMS Road Course, July 4th 2020

We'll see how it unfolds, and we're going to have to give each other respect and the space on the track.

Danica Patrick on Dan Wheldon, June 2007

I don't want to take a defeatist attitude here but it's going to be ugly. If IndyCar goes the domed skid route, we're going to be taking a knife to a gunfight.

Sam Schmidt on Chevy's advantage with domed skids, Racer.com, April 7th 2016

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

If someone said choose one race to win, just one, and that was the only race you ever got to win, it would be the Indy 500.

Jack Harvey on the Indianapolis 500, indianapolismotorspeedway.com, February 21st 2019

Back then there were 50-75 cars just trying to make the field. And they were the best drivers in the world. I remember thinking; I can’t believe this. I can't believe I got a spot.

A.J. Foyt on qualifying for his first Indianapolis 500 mile race

Now it's obvious we were too conservative, we should have just gone for it

Eric Bachelart, Indy 500 Bump Day 2009

I kind of have half an idea of what it means to win this race now. I couldn't be happier.

Dario Franchitti on winning the 91st Indy 500

It's great that it's one minute after six!

Marty Roth, Indy Bump Day 2007

Some of the drivers roll out this 'safety' word, and suddenly it ties everybody's hands. But those arguments make no sense anyway. Remove downforce and you actually improve safety

Rick Mears on downforce, Motorsport.com, October 28th 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

No way. That's the best part about our cars, no power steering, high aero, get it done.

Scott McLaughlin on adding power steering, via Twitter, April 26th 2021

Someone asked me if I win the Indy 500 if I'd still retire? I'd still retire. What better way to go out?

Danica Patrick on her final race, racing.ap.org, March 7th 2018

The last I looked, I earned the label of Indy 500 champion; those lobbing unfounded accusations at me have not.

Eddie Cheever Jr. after Watkins Glen 06

I think the IRL has been poised for a long time to be discovered by a lot of people.

Chip Ganassi

Wild thought. This 18th Indy 500 means I've been in IndyCar for exactly half of my life. 👀😅

Marco Andretti on getting older, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 18th 2023, via Twitter

F1 is for sissies, this is proper racing, you can quote me on that!

Dan Wheldon

If you're an open-wheel racer and not at Indy in May, you're not really a race car driver. You just think you are.

Eddie Cheever

Time to go to the back row party!

Ryan Hunter Reay, Indy 500 Bump Day 2009

If I ever pit with her again, I'm not racing for this team anymore - ever!

Tony Kanaan, Kansas 2007

I am stupid.

Zach Veach on Zach Veach after an off track excursion, IMS, July 4th 2020

He's grounded.

Bryan Herta to Marco Andretti on Colton Herta knocking Marco out of P1 in final practice, Long Beach, April 14th 2019

I know a lot of people say that Iowa is in the middle of nowhere, but you know what, we get such a great crowd and they're so enthusiastic. As a driver you could put me in paradise, but if there's nobody in the grandstands then it's not good racing.

Dan Wheldon on Iowa Speedway, June 2009

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

I think this is something that will really change the complexion of the sport for a long time to come, so this is big

Jay Frye on the Aeroscreen, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, October 2nd 2019

Milka, if you're gonna go that slow you gotta drive your mirrors, hon'!

Ryan Hunter-Reay to Milka Duno after Watkins Glen qualifying, July 2010

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

Everyone thinks that running in dirty air causes the front end to wash out, but actually it affects the whole car and you just can't follow someone close in fast or medium-speed corners since the aerokits came in.

Will Power on aerokits, Motorsport.com, May 4th 2016

You don't gotta win by five seconds - you just gotta win.

Tony Kanaan, Motegi 2007

I just can't wait to get back in the car. I wonder if I'm still any good.

Will Power on the long off season, St Petersburg, March 21st 2013

When Will was going off on Versus, I was cracking up. I was like, man, I didn't know you could talk like that! And I never knew you could say 'wanker' on TV, but that's my new word for now on... so I guess something good did come out of Toronto!

Tony Kanaan on Will Power, Toronto, July 2011

Some people strap on their helmet and lose their brains.

Graham Rahal on the carnage at Toronto, July 2011

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