The Penske Era - 2020-Present
On November 4, 2019, Roger Penske (Penske Corporation) purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from the Hulman Family and thus began the Penske Era at IMS.
Due to the global pandemic, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced on March 26, 2020, that the ‘500’ was postponed to Sunday, August 23rd where it was to be run with spectators however, on August 4th it was announced the ‘500’ would be run without fans for the first time in its history.
The program for 2020 has the August 23rd date which more than likely means a May 24th program was never *printed. The 2020 program is one of the more interesting programs of recent years with the fold-out cover depicting IMS history from the original founders at top left to 2019 ‘500’ winner Simon Pagenaud at lower right. The program measures 8” x 10 1/2”.
*It is estimated that only 15,000 programs were made.
The 2021 program cover was designed by three-time winner Johnny Rutherford. **Rutherford drew the roadster Foyt drove to his first Indy 500 victory 60 years ago, in 1961; Unser’s Johnny Lightning Special he earned his second Indy win with 50 years ago, in 1971; and Mears’ iconic red-and-white car he won his fourth Indy 500 with 30 years ago, in 1991. “It’s an honor to be able to be a part of this project and to do this program cover,” Rutherford said. “I just hope the fans like it and everybody enjoys the fact that it was me, a three-time winner here, that drew that. Add this to what I’ve accomplished at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in my career, and it’s special.”
The program cover was an artistic collaboration between Rutherford and IMS graphic designer Amiah Mims. After Rutherford provided the drawings of the cars, Mims reimagined the 1980 INDYCAR SERIES champion’s artwork in a digital format and integrated it onto a digitally created background that highlights the cars Rutherford drew, as well as the world-famous Yard of Bricks.
The program measures 8” x 10 1/2”.
The 2022 program features four time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves holding up his four winners rings. This marks the first time a single driver has been featured on the cover of the program. The 2013 program has multiple drivers featured.
The program measures 8” x 10 1/2” and was sold sealed in a thin shrink wrap (bottom right) for $20. “Official Commemorative Program” is printed at the top in a gloss black. Part of the right side of the cover has been cut at angle revealing the 106th ‘500’ logo. The inside cover and the first page feature Helio’s three other wins with the first page using the same heavier stock paper as the cover.
The 2023 Program features the logo for 107th Indianapolis 500 with “107th Indy 500” and the wing and wheel logo in gold foil on a black background. The center of the “00’s” of “500” have been cut out so the gold foil first page shows through. The program measures 8” x 10 1/2” and was sold in its own IMS bag (bottom right) for $20.
The 2024 program was designed by Grace Keller and features the winning cars of 1924, 1964, 1974 and 1984. It was sold in a sealed bag fro $20, measures 8” x 10 1/2” and has 208 numbered pages. The front of the race day line up insert features the winners wreath behind the race logo.
About two-thirds of the way through there is a page of nine removable (these are so lightly perforated that in the process of photographing this page some of them were loosened) baseball sized cards. Six of them feature the winning cars and drivers from 1924, 1954, 1964, 1974, 1984 and 1994 with the remaining three featuring the Borg-Warner Trophy, the 2024 race logo and the 2024 program cover. It could be tough in the future to find an intact program as these cards are so loosely perforated they may become detached and lost.
* This information is to the best of our knowledge. If anyone has any corrections or more information, please contact: NI500CC@NI500CC.COM
** Excerpt from the IMS website story from May 13, 2021.