The Historic Car Lap is a pre-race tradition of the Indianapolis 500
INDIANAPOLIS (May 23, 2026) – Just before 11 a.m. on the morning of the Indianapolis 500, generations of racing history will take to the track. The Historic Car Lap, a pre-race tradition led by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, features historic cars, many from the Museum’s collection, driven by former drivers and VIP guests. For one lap, vehicles representing different decades will parade around the oval, introducing the crowd of more than 350,000 to the history of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.
This year’s vehicle roster ranges from 1912-2010 and features many former drivers behind the wheel:
- 1912 National driven by Tony Kanaan
- This is the 1912 Indianapolis 500-winning car driven by Joe Dawson.
- 1925 Miller Special driven by Mario Andretti
- This car was driven by Ralph DePalma in his final Indianapolis 500 as a participant. He qualified 18th and finished 7th.
- 1934 Cummins Diesel Special driven by Kyle Kaiser
- This was one of two Cummins Diesel Specials entered in the 1934 Indianapolis 500. Driver Dave Evans started 22nd and finished 17th when he dropped out of the race due to transmission issues on Lap 81.
- 1941 Noc-Out Hose Clamp Special Wetteroth driven by Lyn St. James
- This is the 1941 Indianapolis 500-winning car. Floyd Davis started the race, but car owner Lou Moore made a driver change to Mauri Rose during the race. Rose won. This was one of two years of co-winners in the “500” (1924,1941).
- 1951 Belanger Motors Special Kurtis-Kraft driven by Sam Hornish, Jr.
- The 1951 Indianapolis 500-winning car driven by Lee Wallard. This was the first race Roger Penske attended with his father when he was a young child.
- 1955 John Zink Special Kurtis driven by Donnie Beechler
- The 1955 Indianapolis 500-winning car driven by Bob Sweikert.
- 1958 Bowes Seal Fast Special Kurtis-Kraft driven by Scott Borchetta
- Driven by Johnny Boyd to a third-place finish in the 1958 Indianapolis 500.
- 1961 Bowes Seal Fast Special Trevis driven by Kenny Bräck
- The 1961 Indianapolis 500-winning car driven by A.J. Foyt for his first of four wins. 1961 marked the 50th anniversary of the “500.”
- 1970 Johnny Lightning 500 Special P.J. Colt driven by Sebastian Saavedra
- This is the 1970 Indianapolis 500-winning car driven by Al Unser. This was his first of four “500” victories.
- 1986 Budweiser March 86C driven by Bobby Rahal
- 1986 Indianapolis 500-winning car driven by Bobby Rahal.
- 2010 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara driven by Dario Franchitti
- 2010 Indianapolis 500-winning car driven by Dario Franchitti.
“Our restoration team preps all year for this moment to ensure the cars are in safe working order,” said Jason Vansickle, Vice President of Curation and Education. “We try to choose cars for the lap based on key anniversaries, such as the 40-year anniversary of Bobby Rahal’s 1986 win. And when we can bring back the driver who originally drove that vehicle, it adds a special nostalgia to the day.”
The Museum currently has five full-time restoration staff members with a combined 175 years of experience as crew members in IndyCar, NASCAR, and restoring vintage cars. They are responsible for preserving and caring for the 150+ cars in the Museum collection. Around 80% of the Museum’s collection runs thanks to their hard work.
The Historic Car Lap vehicles can be viewed in the Museum’s trackside garages, 12A-15, until Race Morning.
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About the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum represents more than a century of motorsports history and is driven by its mission to celebrate and preserve the history behind the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. Since 1956 when the IMS Museum first opened, it has brought to life the innovation, thrill, and cultural significance of motor racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. What began with only 12 cars on display has become one of the world’s premier collections of racing automobiles and artifacts – with more than 55,000 artifacts and over 150 vehicles. The IMS Museum ignites curiosity, sparks discovery, and embraces tradition.