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
Let's wait and watch.
Tom Carnegie
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
We are unified.
Terry Angstadt, February 22nd 2008
We won a 500-mile race - not the right one, but we won a 500-miler...
Will Power on the 2016 season, ESPN.com, September 18th 2016
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
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 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
Obviously we always see the good days, but Gil de Ferran told me if you can have a bad day and nobody notices, that's how you do a really good job - and that's how you win a championship.
Simon Pagenaud on the 2016 season, ESPN.com, September 18th 2016
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
It takes a lot of guts to expose yourself in front of millions of people, in front of all the media, in front of all your peers. If somebody came to me and said, "Hey, you want to run Texas in an IRL car," I'd say, "Hell, no. I don't want to get embarrassed." She's doing that. I have a lot of respect for that.
Jeff Burton on Danica Patrick, June 2010
I've got the Grandfathers Club with Helio and Juan, right?!
Roger Penske on his older two drivers, motorsport.com, March 22nd 2016
Whatever you heard, somebody made it up. For the first two days, he talked nonsense because he had a concussion. It doesn't matter what he was saying. He doesn't even remember it.
Tony Kanaan on the rumours of Dario Franchitti's retirement after Houston, 2013
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
I still have the passion to drive the hell out of it!
Juan Pablo Montoya on his motivation, NBCSports.com, July 12th 2016
I was a craft beer and a wallet chain away from being a hipster!
James Hinchcliffe on beard growth, Tim and Sid's Plays of the Week, September 14th 2015
It's great that it's one minute after six!
Marty Roth, Indy Bump Day 2007
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
I have learned more in one week here than I did in my entire Formula One career.
Jean Alesi, Bump Day, Indy 2012
Having a pulse should make you want to attend the 500.
James Hinchcliffe on what should make you want to attend the 500, via Twitter, April 2012
The things that play on your mind the most are the ones that just got away.
Buddy Lazier on the Indy 500
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
Not bad for a part timer ;o)
Graham Rahal on finishing 5th at Toronto, via Twitter, July 2010
Whoever has got the big balls is going to go fast!
Helio Castroneves
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
Fernando Alonso on the difference between an IndyCar and an F1 car, May 3rd 2017
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
Again, I was scared to death. I had zero grip, and I was lifting at the start/finish line going into one. It's embarrassing.
Marco Andretti, Kansas 2007
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 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 was going through there as hard as I could. It was for everything. It was for all the marbles.
Sam Hornish Jr, Indy 2006
...one of the things that has always been wrong with that theory that NASCAR is the enemy... and they are... is because the people at NASCAR need to protect NASCAR.
Curt Cavin on Trackside, May 13th 2010
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
The worst thing about crashing A.J.'s car twice in two days is you still have to go to dinner with him. And he makes you buy, and then he eats your bowl of ice cream, too.
Billy Boat
It looks so easy when you watch it on TV, but it's not.
Franck Perera on racing ovals, Homestead 2008
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 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
I wish Beaux Barfield was officiating when I was driving - I'd have gotten a lot less penalties!
Paul Tracy on lax penalties for avoidable contact, Long Beach 2014
3-horse chase. Power, Dixie and GR
Curt Cavin with a new twist on an old saying, GP of Baltimore 2013
If we're not racing hard, we're not racing.
Tony Kanaan, St Pete's 2007
I promise you this: it isn't the last you've seen of me at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. My last time there will not be a day when I'm walking out with my tail between my legs.
Paul Tracy, Indy Bump Day 2010
I think the IRL has been poised for a long time to be discovered by a lot of people.
Chip Ganassi
I'm 19 years old, I drive Indy cars... I'm happy.
Marco Andretti, July 2006
A happy wife is a happy life!
Scott Dixon on marriage at the Carb Night Burger Bash, 2015
Gentlemen... restart your engines!
Tom Carnegie, Indy 2004
I was frustrated since Motegi and wanted to prove a point. When you're in a competitive package, you can't let points slip. I can eat breakfast tomorrow morning now instead of stabbing my fork into the table.
Dan Wheldon, Kansas 2007
Heeeeere's something that's amazing... i-dent-ical laps.
Tom Carnegie
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
Without the IRL, a lot of guys would never have been able to show what they can do.
Tony Stewart, May 2007
For a moment, all is right with the world - Danica Patrick is leading the Indianapolis 500.
Adam Alexander, Indy 2005
| Driver | Value | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Helio Castroneves | $345000 | 36 |
| Simon Pagenaud | $310000 | 30 |
| Ryan Briscoe | $310000 | 20 |
| Sebastien Bourdais | $295000 | 17 |
| Juan Pablo Montoya | $310000 | 15 |
| Total | $1570000 | 118 |