Indianapolis Motor Speedway Officials

Through 2009

YearSpeedway PresidentSanctionChief StewartPace Car DriverStarterHonorary Referee
1911Carl FisherAAAC.W. SedwickCarl FisherFred WagnerR.P. Hooper
1912Carl FisherAAAC.W. SedwickCarl FisherFred WagnerR.P. Hooper
1913Carl FisherAAAC.W. SedwickCarl FisherCharles RootLaurence Enos
1914Carl FisherAAAC.W. SedwickCarl FisherThomas HayJohn A. Wilson
1915Carl FisherAAAC.W. SedwickCarl FisherThomas HayA.R. Pardington
1916Carl FisherAAAC.W. SedwickFrank SmithGeorge DicksonHoward Marmon
1919Carl FisherAAAW.D. EdenburnFrank SmithE.C. PattersonEddie Rickenbacker
1920Carl FisherAAAW.D. EdenburnBarney OldfieldE.C. PattersonClifford Ireland
1921Carl FisherAAAW.D. EdenburnHarry C. StutzThomas HayDavid Beechcroft
1922Carl FisherAAAW.D. EdenburnBarney OldfieldEddie RickenbackerRichard Kennerdell
1923Carl FisherAAAW.D. EdenburnFred DuesenburgEddie RickenbackerJohn O. LaGorce
1924Carl FisherAAAW.D. EdenburnLouis PettijohnW.S. GilbreathHenry Ford
1925Carl FisherAAAW.D. EdenburnEddie RickenbackerSeth KleinCharles Schwab
1926Carl FisherAAAW.D. EdenburnLouis ChevroletSeth KleinArthur Brisbane
1927Carl FisherAAAW.D. Edenburn"Big Boy" RaderGeorge TownsendCharles Kettering
1928Eddie RickenbackerAAAW.D. EdenburnJoe DawsonChester MaitlandLarry P. Fisher
1929Eddie RickenbackerAAAW.D. EdenburnGeorge HuntLarry FisherHarvey Firestone
1930Eddie RickenbackerAAAW.D. EdenburnE.L. CordGratland RiceVincent Bendix
1931Eddie RickenbackerAAAW.D. Edenburn"Big Boy" RaderBarney OldfieldWilliam Knudsen
1932Eddie RickenbackerAAAW.D. EdenburnEdsel FordGar WoodEdsel Ford
1933Eddie RickenbackerAAAW.D. EdenburnByron FordRoscoe TurnerLarry Fisher
1934Eddie RickenbackerAAAW.D. Edenburn"Big Boy" RaderSeth KleinRoy Chapin
1935Eddie RickenbackerAAACharles MerzHarry MackSeth KleinAmelia Earhart
1936Eddie RickenbackerAAACharles MerzTommy MiltonSeth KleinRalph DePalma
1937Eddie RickenbackerAAACharles MerzRalph DePalmaSeth KleinWilliam Knudsen
1938Eddie RickenbackerAAACharles MerzStuart BaitsSeth KleinHarvey Firestone
1939Eddie RickenbackerAAACharles MerzCharles ChayneSeth KleinRoscoe Turner
1940Eddie RickenbackerAAATed DoescherHarry HartzSeth KleinPaul Hoffman
1941Eddie RickenbackerAAATed DoescherA.B. CoutureSeth KleinGuy Vaughn
1946Wibur ShawAAAJ.H. MehanHenry Ford IISeth KleinJack Dempsey
1947Wibur ShawAAAJ.H. MehanGeorge MasonSeth KleinRalph Gates
1948Wibur ShawAAAJ.H. MehanWilbur ShawSeth KleinAl Feeney
1949Wibur ShawAAATommy MiltonWilbur ShawSeth KleinJ.E. McManamon
1950Wibur ShawAAATommy MiltonBenson FordSeth KleinClarence Beesmyer
1951Wibur ShawAAATommy MiltonDave WallaceSeth KleinClarence Beesmyer
1952Wibur ShawAAATommy MiltonP.O. PetersonSeth KleinRaymond Firestone
1953Wibur ShawAAAHarry McQuinnWillaim FordSeth KleinHenry Ford II
1954Wibur ShawAAAHarry McQuinnWilliam NewburgBill VanderwaterRalph DePalma
1955Tony HulmanAAAHarry McQuinnT.H. KeatingBill VanderwaterR.A. Stranahan, Jr.
1956Tony HulmanUSACHarry McQuinnL.I. WoolsonBill VanderwaterHerman Teetor
1957Tony HulmanUSACHarry McQuinnF.C ReithBill VanderwaterLouis Schwitzer, Jr.
1958Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerSam HanksBill VanderwaterR.A. Stranahan, Jr.
1959Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerSam HanksBill VanderwaterVernon Bellman
1960Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerSam HanksBill VanderwaterVernon Bellman
1961Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerSam HanksBill VanderwaterRaymond Firestone
1962Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerSam HanksPat VidanR.A. Stranahan, Jr.
1963Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerSam HanksPat VidanBaxter F. Ball
1964Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerBenson FordPat VidanRaymond Firestone
1965Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerP.N. BuckminsterPat VidanRaymond Firestone
1966Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerBenson FordPat VidanRaymond Firestone


YearSpeedway PresidentSanctionChief StewartPace Car Driver
(Start)
Pace Car Driver
(Cautions)
Starter
1967Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerMauri RoseN/APat Vidan
1968Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerWilliam FordN/APat Vidan
1969Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerJim RathmannN/APat Vidan
1970Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerRodger WardN/APat Vidan
1971Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerEldon PalmerN/APat Vidan
1972Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerJim RathmannN/APat Vidan
1973Tony HulmanUSACHarlan FenglerJim RathmannN/APat Vidan
1974Tony HulmanUSACTom BinfordJim RathmannN/APat Vidan
1975Tony HulmanUSACTom BinfordJames GarnerN/APat Vidan
1976Tony HulmanUSACTom BinfordMarty RobbinsN/APat Vidan
1977Tony HulmanUSACTom BinfordJames GarnerN/APat Vidan
1978Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordJim RathmannN/APat Vidan
1979Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordJackie StewartJim RathmannPat Vidan
1980John CooperUSACTom BinfordJohnnie ParsonsDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1981John CooperUSACTom BinfordDuke NalonDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1982Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordJim RathmannDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1983Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordDuke NalonDuke NalonDuane Sweeney
1984Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordJohn CalliesDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1985Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordJames GarnerDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1986Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordChuck YeagerDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1987Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordCarroll ShelbyDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1988Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordChuck YeagerDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1989Joe CloutierUSACTom BinfordBobby UnserDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1990Tony GeorgeUSACTom BinfordJim PerkinsDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1991Tony GeorgeUSACTom BinfordCarroll ShelbyDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1992Tony GeorgeUSACTom BinfordBobby UnserDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1993Tony GeorgeUSACTom BinfordJim PerkinsDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1994Tony GeorgeUSACTom BinfordParnelli JonesDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1995Tony GeorgeUSACTom BinfordJim PerkinsDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1996Tony GeorgeUSAC IRLKeith WardBob LutzDon BaileyDuane Sweeney
1997Tony GeorgeUSAC IRLKeith WardJohnny RutherfordDon BaileyBryan Howard
1998Tony GeorgeIRLBrian BarnhartParnelli JonesDon BaileyBryan Howard
1999Tony GeorgeIRLBrian BarnhartJay LenoDon BaileyBryan Howard
2000Tony GeorgeIRLBrian BarnhartAnthony EdwardsDon BaileyBryan Howard
2001Tony GeorgeIRLBrian BarnhartElaine Irwin-MellencampDon BaileyBryan Howard
2002Tony GeorgeIRLBrian BarnhartJim CaviezalJoie Chitwood IIIBryan Howard
2003Tony GeorgeIRLBrian BarnhartHerb FishelJohnny RutherfordBryan Howard
2004Tony GeorgeIRLBrian BarnhartMorgan FreemanJoie Chitwood, IIIBryan Howard
2005Joie Chitwood, IIIIRLBrian BarnhartColin PowellJoie Chitwood, IIIBryan Howard
2006Joie Chitwood, IIIIRLBrian BarnhartLance ArmstrongJohnny RutherfordBryan Howard
2007Joie Chitwood, IIIIRLBrian BarnhartPatrick DempseyJohnny RutherfordBryan Howard
2008Joie Chitwood, IIIIRLBrian BarnhartEmerson FittipaldiJohnny RutherfordBryan Howard
2009Joie Chitwood, IIIIRLBrian BarnhartJosh DuhamelJohnny RutherfordBryan Howard

1996-1997
For two runnings of the Indy 500, the Indy Racing League fell under the overall sanctioning umbrella of USAC. For the first nine races of its existance (from january 1996-June 1997), the IRL was a division of USAC. After two controversial races (the 1997 Indy 500 and the 1997 Texas 500k), the IRL abruptly removed itself from oversight by USAC, and started to sanction the series in-house.

Hulman/George family notes
Following the death of Tony Hulman on October 27, 1977, the management of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was reorganized. Hulman's widow, Mrs. Mary Fendrich Hulman was named the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Chairman of the Board. In May 1988 at age 83, Mary F. Hulman was named chairman of the board emeritus. Her daughter, Mari Hulman George, was named the new IMS Chairman of the Board.

Anton "Tony" George was named President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in January 1990 following the death of Joe Cloutier. In 1994, Tony George announced the formation of the Indy Racing League (IRL). He became the first CEO of the IRL and it began competition in 1996.

Tony George stepped aside from the day-to-day role of President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in late 2004. In December 2004, Joie Chitwood, III was promoted to President and COO of the Speedway. Tony George remained as the CEO of the IRL and Hulman & Co. Meanwhile, Tony George bought the assets of Kelley Racing, and IndyCar Series team, and founded Vision Racing. The team was entered full-time into the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, as well as the Grand Am series. Around the same time period, Brian Barnhart (competition division) and Terry Angstadt (commercial division) were named presidents of the Indy Racing League. Charlie Morgan was also named president of IMS Productions.

On February 22, 2008, the entities of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car unified into a single series, largely under the leadership of Tony George. For the 2008 "unified" season, George continued as CEO of the Indy Racing League. By 2009, after many factors, rumors began during the month of May that Tony George could be outsed of his position(s). Three days after the 2009 Indy 500, Robin Miller initially reported that Tony George had been voted out of his position of power by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway board. The report was denied, and the report was retracted.

On June 30, 2009, Tony George resigned from his three major positions: CEO of the Speedway, CEO of the Indy Racing League, and CEO of Hulman & Co. Jeff Belskus was named the new CEO of the Speedway. Curt Brighton was named president and CEO of Hulman & Co. Tony George was given a seat on the IMS board of directors.

As of July 1, 2009, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. board of directors consists of: Mari Hulman George (chairperson), Tony George, Josie George, Nancy George, Katherine George-Conforti, and attorney Jack Snyder.

On July 20, 2009, Joie Chitwood III announced his resignation as President and COO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, effective August 6, 2009 (following the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard). He is to be replaced by Jeff Belskus.


Honorary starters

An honorary starter has been used to wave the green flag in the following years:

1993  Nick Fornoro (Longtime CART/PPG Indy Car series starter/flagman)
1997  Ronald R. Fogelman, U.S.A.F. (Celebrating the United States Air Force)
1998  Mark Page (Sr. VP of Store Operations for Pep Boys)
1999  Jim Postl (President and CEO of Pennzoil)
2000  Howard Katz (President of ABC Sports)
2004  Nick Lachey (singer from the band "98 degrees," TV personality)
2005  Reggie Miller (Retired Indiana Pacers basketball player)
2006  Sugar Ray Leonard (Retired professional boxing legend)
2007  Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Super Bowl XLI MVP)
2008  Kristi Yamaguchi (1992 Olympic figure skating gold medalist)
2009  Allen Sirkin (COO of Phillips-Van Heusen, manufacturer of IZOD clothing)

Since the inception of the pack-up rule in 1979, when the pace car leads the cars during a yellow flag situation, an official has driven the pace car during these periods, not the celebrity driver.

The position of Chief Stewart was replaced by the title of IRL Director Racing Operations from 1998-2000. In 2001, Brian Barnhart's title became Vice President of Racing Operations. In 2005, Barnhart was named President of the Indy Racing League.