Everyone remembers the pole winner for two weeks. Everyone remembers the race winner for life.
Dan Wheldon on the Indy 500
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
The race that made the IRL famous!
Eddie Gossage on the Bombardier Lear Jet 500, May 2009
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
Eyes on the starter...
Tom Carnegie
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
A happy wife is a happy life!
Scott Dixon on marriage at the Carb Night Burger Bash, 2015
This is just an excellent race and to be a part of the history, I'm really grateful for that.
Roger Yasukawa, Indy 2007
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
It's just great, pure racing.
Sebastien Bourdais on IndyCar, June 2015
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
I drove the best race of my whole career!
Rinus VeeKay on finishing 5th at the IMS Road Course, July 4th 2020
It's great that it's one minute after six!
Marty Roth, Indy Bump Day 2007
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
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
Going into Texas with four wheels on the car is pretty exciting!
Sarah Fisher after the 2009 Indianapolis 500
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
Good morning from the start/finish line at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Tom Carnegie
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
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
It's always sad to be out of a race but I'm happy that I walked away; it was a nasty, nasty crash.
Tony Kanaan at the 2009 Indianapolis 500
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James Hinchcliffe on bumping at Indy, May 19th 2018
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
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 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 still have the passion to drive the hell out of it!
Juan Pablo Montoya on his motivation, NBCSports.com, July 12th 2016
It felt way better than I ever thought it was going to feel!
Ed Carpenter on finally winning his first race, Kansas, October 2011
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
Any time I get to come to Indianapolis, any time I get to participate in the greatest spectacle in motor racing, it's a great day.
Paul Diatlovitch, Indy Bump Day 2007
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
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
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
We'll be fine. I'll take them to Six Flags tomorrow and we'll all be fine.
Tony Kanaan on Marco & Danica, June 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway
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
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
Second place is nothing.
Marco Andretti, Indy 2006
"Many people always ask me why I sign off 'Until we meet again.' Because goodbye is so final. Goodbye, Dan Wheldon."
Marty Reid, Las Vegas, October 16th 2011
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Fernando Alonso on the difference between an IndyCar and an F1 car, May 3rd 2017
There comes a time in a race where money doesn't matter, living doesn't matter. Winning is the only thing that matters, and so when you go into those corners, it's winning that tells all.
Al Unser Jr.
Heeeeeee's on it!
Tom Carnegie
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
As a past driver, I'd answer the phone if Roger or Chip called...
Sarah Fisher on keeping Josef Newgarden in her team, Racer.com, August 3rd 2015
Not bad for a part timer ;o)
Graham Rahal on finishing 5th at Toronto, via Twitter, July 2010
Helio lives for this. This is his passion. He loves Indy.
Simon Pagenaud, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 15th 2018
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
It's going to be a close finish. I have the bigger nose, I guess I have a good chance.
Tony Kanaan, Kansas 2005
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
Who is the buff guy in blue with the big #Schnozolla?
Chip Ganassi on Tony Kanaan's Family Feud appearance, via Twitter, July 26th 2016
I just kept focused, focused, focused, all day long, getting every corner perfect.
Helio Castroneves, St Pete's 2007
I get one more opportunity to head into the defining racing venue of my career with a single, achievable goal: Win.
Danica Patrick on her final Indy 500, The Players' Tribune, May 15th 2018