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

That was the hairiest day I've ever had.

Ryan Hunter Reay, Indy 500 Bump Day 2009

I didn't leave. I was terminated.

Sebastien Bourdais on the flip side of the Coyne, NBCSports.com, November 22nd 2019

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

P2 to P8 to P20 to who knows to P2. Confirmed… Portland IS weird.

Alexander Rossi on another wild race at Portland, via Twitter, September 13th 2021

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

Pounding down toward the yard of bricks...

Tom Carnegie

Having raced all over the planet, I would say that IndyCar is the toughest beast yet to master for me.

Felix Rosenqvist, Motorsports.com, September 17th 2019

Time to go to the back row party!

Ryan Hunter Reay, Indy 500 Bump Day 2009

I can't believe I'm here. It's so cool!

Mike Conway in victory lane, Long Beach 2014

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

The wall came too close and too quickly.

Fernando Alonso after crashing in practice, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 15th 2019

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

Winning is always a great feeling, but winning at your home track, a place that you grew up at and a place that helped you fall in love with the sport of IndyCar racing... this is priceless.

Graham Rahal on winning at Mid-Ohio, Instagram, August 3rd 2015

I plan to be here hopefully until I'm into my 40s, and to accomplish something like Scott has done.

Alexander Rossi on building an IndyCar legacy, Mobil1TheGrid.com, December 10th 2018

The Indy 500 is the biggest race in the world. I don't think it's even debatable. It is.

Dan Wheldon

You know, if you're going to have an example of how not to go about things, this is 100 percent how you would do it.

Scott Dixon on Alex Palou's contract dispute, Toronto, July 15th 2022

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

Second place is nothing.

Marco Andretti, Indy 2006

If I have to race until I am 86 years old, I am going to race until I win another Indianapolis 500.

Dan Wheldon after finishing 2nd in the 2010 Indianapolis 500

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

Helio lives for this. This is his passion. He loves Indy.

Simon Pagenaud, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 15th 2018

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

Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug. And sometimes you have an air gun failure.

Simon Pagenaud on equipment issues, St Petersburg, March 11th 2018

Do you still remember how to celebrate these things?!

Tim Cindric on the radio to Will Power, Detroit, 5th June 2016

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

Gentlemen, start your engines.

Wilbur Shaw

Some of the drivers who don't want to do the Indy 500, they just have small balls. I think that's the only explanation.

Mikhail Aleshin on drivers who are too scared to run the Indy 500, May 16th 2017

I drove it like I stole it!

Helio Castroneves, St Pete's 2006

The track is narrower than I thought! You watch the television and you see three cars alongside on the main straight - now I am in the car on the main straight and it's hard to imagine how you can fit three cars there at speed.

Fernando Alonso after his first test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 3rd 2017

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

Tony Kanaan, Motegi 2007

And here comes Max Crappis into the pits!

Paul Page, Michigan '99

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

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

You don't pay me to run second.

Dan Wheldon to Chip Ganassi, Nashville 2006

If they want to be on the front page of USA Today, they can be my guest. If I ever want attention, I'm just going to get out of the car and beat the hell out of somebody.

Tony Kanaan on Dan and Danica, Milwaukee 2007

I've got the Grandfathers Club with Helio and Juan, right?!

Roger Penske on his older two drivers, motorsport.com, March 22nd 2016

Brad Pitt got a super license before me. Tough.

Colton Herta on Brad Pitt joining the F1 grid to film a movie, Twitter, May 4th 2023

Patience is a virtue... and someone wasn't very virtuous today.

James Hinchcliffe on an unnamed driver, Long Beach 2014

I love this championship and everything it represents. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be here. I wouldn't want to have it any other way.

Alexander Rossi on IndyCar, The Indy Star, September 14th 2018

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

Finishing in the Top-10 here was because of nutrition.

A Sarah Fisher malapropism, Texas 2007

There's fathers out there. There's husbands. There's brothers, sisters. It's something that absolutely we think about. We hope for the best with it.

Ryan Hunter-Reay on the dangers of racing an IndyCar, Pocono, August 23rd 2015

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

Broke a glass at a restaurant. Apologize to the waiter, he looks at me, says "Accidents happen. YOU know what I mean!"

James Hinchcliffe via Twitter, December 17th 2015

It's just crazy. If I never won another pole, I wouldn't care. Almost.

James Hinchcliffe on winning the pole for the 100th Indy 500, May 22nd 2016

The last time this flag was on the front row of the Indy500, I wasn’t born. Makes me proud.

Rinus Veekay on the Dutch flag, Twitter.com, May 25th 2021

I need a nap now.

Colton Herta on winning his first IndyCar race, COTA, 24th March 2019

I mean this guy can't even keep his lies straight. He's told so many in the last week, he's not sure what the truth is.

Robin Miller on Kevin Kalkoven, February 2008