These Colorized Photos Show a Century’s Evolution of Indy 500 Racing
These Colorized Photos Show a Century’s Evolution of Indy 500 Racing
2 minute read
Gil Andersen of Norway with his riding mechanic aboard the #3 Stutz Motor Company Stutz Bearcat racer before the start of the third running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 30, 1913 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Getty Images
The Indianapolis 500, which will be held on May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, looks quite a bit different today than it did when the first race was held on May 30, 1911. That year, the formerly gravel-and-tar race track was newly paved, Memorial Day was still known as Decoration Day and a total of 60,000 fans—about a fifth of today’s attendance, not including the 6 million or so who will watch on TV—showed up to take in the action. But perhaps the biggest difference between then and now is the evolution of the race cars themselves.
When Ray Harroun won the first Indy 500, he did it in a Marmon Model 32-based Wasp racer, so named for its black and yellow color scheme. Harroun’s vehicle was a far cry from the sleek speed demons on the track today: It was little more than a cylindrical chassis with four narrow wheels, a seat and a newfangled streamlined tail. It lacked a windshield, though it was the first car to employ the use of a rear-view mirror, and it moved, under Harroun’s winning control, at an average speed of 74 mph.
Over the years the open-wheel car raced in the Indy 500 evolved as engineers tinkered with its form to maximize speed without sacrificing safety. Advancements in their aerodynamics allow the so-called IndyCars of today to reach speeds of up to 220 mph. In honor of one of motorsport’s most revered institutions, TIME commissioned freelance photo editor Sanna Dullaway to colorize several images from the early days of the event known as the “greatest spectacle in racing.”
Sanna Dullaway is a photo editor based in Sweden. See more of her work here.
Gil Andersen of Norway with his riding mechanic aboard the #3 Stutz Motor Company Stutz Bearcat racer before the start of the third running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 30, 1913 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesGil Andersen of Norway with his riding mechanic aboard the #3 Stutz Motor Company Stutz Bearcat racer before the start of the third running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 30, 1913 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Getty ImagesRace car driver Ray Keech in his Simplex Piston Ring Special #2 race car after winning the Indy 500. Indianapolis, Indiana, 1929. Underwood Archives/Getty ImagesRace car driver Ray Keech in his Simplex Piston Ring Special #2 race car after winning the Indy 500. Indianapolis, Indiana, 1929. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Getty Images1935: Driver Rex Mays shown here with the Lion Head Special. Mays made 12 starts in the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the pole position four times. Mays finished second in the race twice, in both 1940 and 1941. ISC Images & Archives/Getty Images1935: Driver Rex Mays shown here with the Lion Head Special. Mays made 12 starts in the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the pole position four times. Mays finished second in the race twice, in both 1940 and 1941. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Getty ImagesIndy Cars are shown on the brick racing surface of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the pace lap for the Indianapolis 500 on May 31, 1937. ISC Images & Archives/Getty ImagesIndy Cars are shown on the brick racing surface of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the pace lap for the Indianapolis 500 on May 31, 1937. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Getty Images1946: George Robson drove Joel Thorne’s Noc-Out Hose Clamp Special to victory in the Indianapolis 500 AAA Indy Car race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ISC Images & Archives/Getty Images1946: George Robson drove Joel Thorne’s Noc-Out Hose Clamp Special to victory in the Indianapolis 500 AAA Indy Car race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Getty Images1947: The two Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials owned by former driver Lou Moore are shown being prepared for the running of the Indianapolis 500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Deidt chassis, Offenhauser-powered machines were piloted to a one-two finish in the Indy 500 by Mauri Rose and Bill Holland.
ISC Images & Archives/Getty Images1947: The two Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials owned by former driver Lou Moore are shown being prepared for the running of the Indianapolis 500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Deidt chassis, Offenhauser-powered machines were piloted to a one-two finish in the Indy 500 by Mauri Rose and Bill Holland.
Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Getty ImagesDuke Nalon makes a pit stop during the running of the Indianapolis 500 Indy Car race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1948. Driving a 1947 Kurtis/Offenhauser owned by Lou Welch, Nalon finished third in the event. ISC Images & Archives/Getty ImagesDuke Nalon makes a pit stop during the running of the Indianapolis 500 Indy Car race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1948. Driving a 1947 Kurtis/Offenhauser owned by Lou Welch, Nalon finished third in the event. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Getty ImagesLate-1940s: Indy Car driver Mauri Rose of Columbus, OH, with the Borg-Warner Trophy, awarded each year to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 Indy Car race. Although Rose is credited with winning the race three times, in 1941, 1947 and 1948, his likeness appears on the trophy just twice. Rose took over teammate Floyd Davis’ car in the 1941 race and eventually won, but Davis is “officially” listed as the winner of the event. ISC Images & Archives/Getty ImagesLate-1940s: Indy Car driver Mauri Rose of Columbus, OH, with the Borg-Warner Trophy, awarded each year to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 Indy Car race. Although Rose is credited with winning the race three times, in 1941, 1947 and 1948, his likeness appears on the trophy just twice. Rose took over teammate Floyd Davis’ car in the 1941 race and eventually won, but Davis is “officially” listed as the winner of the event. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Getty Images
