Sigur Whitaker is an acclaimed auto racing history book author. First Super Speedway and Sigur are collaborating with this platform for her articles. You can receive her articles directly by subscribing to her e-mail newsletter. If you would like to be added to my subscriber list, please let her know at sigurwhitakerbooks881@gmail.com.

Howard Keck

By Sigur Whitaker
Howard Keck was a familiar figure at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the early 1950s. He first appeared there in 1949, when Jimmy Jackson finished 29th after a compressor failed on lap 53 of the Indianapolis 500. 

 

1960s Tire Wars
Balloon Tires at the Speedway

By Sigur Whitaker
 
One of the objectives of the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was as a test track so manufacturers could test their product. Over the years, there were multiple innovations which debuted at the track, one of which was the balloon tire, introduced by Firestone at the 1925 Indianapolis 500. It changed tire production throughout the United States.  
 
Until that point, automobile tires were based upon the bicycle tire. They were narrow and experienced frequent failures.

1910 Aviation Week

By Sigur Whitaker.
 

Tire Wars in the 1960s

By Sigur Whitaker.

Rickenbacker By Whitaiker

By Sigur Whitaker.
 

Roger Penske Sports Car Driver of the Year

On May 30, 1951, Jay Penske and his son, 14-year-old Roger, watched Lee Wallard win the Indianapolis 500 from their seats on the outside of Turn 4. That experience would change the course of his life. After the trip to Indianapolis, all young Penske could dream about was becoming a race car driver.
 
During his teenage years in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Penske rebuilt and sold 34 cars. Already interested in auto racing, Penske would ride his bicycle to the stock car races in Cleveland to watch Mike Klapac, his favorite driver.
 

Little-Known Duesy Story

By Sigur Whiaker.
 
Duesenberg tested all of its cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before they were shipped to either a Duesenberg dealership or to the customer placing the order. These cars were highly desired by Hollywood elites, such as Gary Cooper, and gangsters because they could easily outrun any car on the road. One day in May 1929, things went terribly wrong.
 

Little-Known Duesy Story

By Sigur Whiaker
 
Duesenberg tested all of its cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before they were shipped to either a Duesenberg dealership or to the customer placing the order. These cars were highly desired by Hollywood elites, such as Gary Cooper, and gangsters because they could easily outrun any car on the road. One day in May 1929, things went terribly wrong.
 

Category for articles about the past, but written decades later.

Back Home Again History

Thanks to Tom Beeler for the flag on this reflection of the story behind the Indianapolis 500's ceremonial song, "Back Home Again in Indiana."