The things that play on your mind the most are the ones that just got away.

Buddy Lazier on the Indy 500

When I saw he was slowing down, I have to say it was a relief. I thought, 'Now we can finally unleash the beast inside and go for the win.'

Simon Pagenaud on Will Power's misfortune at Sonoma, ESPN.com, September 18th 2016

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

My mom hasn't played much of a role in my racing career. In fact, I think she still wants me to join the Coast Guard. But I still love her.

PJ Chesson on Mothers Day

To finish first you must first finish.

Rick Mears

Some people strap on their helmet and lose their brains.

Graham Rahal on the carnage at Toronto, July 2011

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

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

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

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

Marty Roth, Indy Bump Day 2007

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

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

Dan Wheldon

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 was talent and skill, that's how I did it. A masterful display of driving ability!

James Hinchcliffe on getting through the gap that took him from 17th to 6th at Mid Ohio, August 2014

I've never been so happy to be in last place.

Ryan Hunter Reay, Indy 500 Bump Day 2009

I can't believe it. I cannot believe it. What a year for this Target team. It was so much fun to be a part of.

Dario Franchitti, Homestead 2009

I can hardly believe it. Who would have thought it?!

Dario Franchitti on winning the 91st Indy 500

I'm 38. I'm a legit 38. I don't know how old you are, but I'm legit 38. March 3 1981.

Ed Carpenter to Tony Kanaan on the suggestion that he was over 40, Gateway, August 24th 2019

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

You've only seen me smile here.

Romain Grosjean on being in IndyCar, after the GMR Grand Prix, IMS, May 15th 2021

Everyone remembers the pole winner for two weeks. Everyone remembers the race winner for life.

Dan Wheldon on the Indy 500

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

Since last fall I've been wondering what in the hell it's going to feel like, and now I know.

Danica Patrick on driving an IndyCar after 7 years away, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 1st 2018

It's a great feeling. I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

Sam Hornish Jr. on winning the 90th Indy 500

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

You need to learn how to f***ing count.

Arie Luyendyk, Texas '97

I drove it like I stole it!

Helio Castroneves, St Pete's 2006

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

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

You know, bison do seem like some very American animals.

Conor Daly on Bison, IndyCar.com March 23rd 2021

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

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

I keep getting asked by Europeans, drivers also, if racing around IMS was boring an' easy. I just want to shake my head and walk away.

Connor Daly, June 6th 2013, via Twitter

I've seen this place be absolutely great to me, and I've seen it wrench my heart from my body.

Dan Wheldon on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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

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

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

I wish I could get my deadbeat family to participate.

Kurt St. Angelo on the IndyCarFanZone fantasy league, Twitter, September 14th 2022

Racing IndyCars at Richmond is like flying fighter jets in a gymnasium.

Eddie Cheever Jr.

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

It's just great, pure racing.

Sebastien Bourdais on IndyCar, June 2015

Will he get through? Where is he? Where is he? There he is!

Tom Carnegie on A.J. Foyt, 1967

I can't control what size I am and how I'm built. All I know is the NBA doesn't lower the hoop for short guys.

Danica Patrick, June 2005

Time to go to the back row party!

Ryan Hunter Reay, Indy 500 Bump Day 2009

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

I was going good but then I slipped in my own drool.

Helio Castroneves on the return to road courses

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