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1911 Stoddard-Dayton 50 hp Model 11. Driver: Carl G. Fisher
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1911 Stoddard-Dayton Model 11. Same pace car to be used in 1913 and 1914
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1912 Stutz. Driver: Carl G. Fisher
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1913 Stoddard-Dayton Model 11. Driver: Carl G. Fisher
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1914 Stoddard-Dayton Model 11. Driver: Carl G. Fisher
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1915 Packard Six, Model 5-48. Driver: Carl G. Fisher
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1916 Premier Model 656. Driver: Frank E. Smith
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1919 Packard 335 V12. Driver: Col. J. G. Vincent
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1920 Marmon Model 34. Driver: Barney Oldfield
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1921 H.C.S. Series 6. Driver: Harry C. Stutz
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1922 National Sextet. Driver: Barney Oldfield
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1923 Duesenberg Model A. Driver: Fred S. Duesenberg
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1924 Cole V-8 Series 890. Driver: Lew Pettijohn
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1925 Rickenbacker Eight. Driver: Eddie Rickenbacker
1926 Chrysler Imperial E-80. Driver: Louis Chevrolet
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1927 LaSalle V-8 Series 303. Driver: ‘Big Boy’ Rader
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1928 Marmon ‘8’ Model 78. Driver: Joe Dawson
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1929 Studebaker Phaeton F-10 President. Driver: George Hunt
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1930 Cord L-29. Driver: Wade Morton
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1931 Cadillac 370 Twelve. Driver: ‘Big Boy’ Rader
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1932 Lincoln Model KB. Driver: Edsel Ford
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1933 Chrysler Imperial Phaeton. Driver: Byron Foy
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1934 LaSalle Model 350. Driver: ‘Big Boy’ Rader
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1935 Ford Model 48. Driver: Harry Mack
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1936 Packard One-Twenty. Driver: Tommy Milton
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1937 LaSalle Series 50. Driver: Ralph DePalma
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1938 Hudson 112. Driver: Stuart Baits
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1939 Buick Roadmaster Series 80. Driver: Charles Chayne
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1940 Studebaker Champion. Driver: Harry Hartz
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1941 Chrysler Newport Phaeton. Driver: A.B. Couture
The First Indy 500 Race 1911
1911 Historic Indy 500 Newsreel
Vintage Indy Race Cars
1932 Indy 500 Newsreel
1937 Indy 500 Newsreel
1939 Indy 500 Newsreel
Indy 500 Museum Guided Tour
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Mario on May 8, 2023 said:
The 1911 Stoddard-Dayton 50 hp Model 11 with shortened chassis (106 in) was the official pace car at the first Indy 500 race in 1911. The Driver was Carl G. Fisher. It was also the pace car in 1913 and 1914. Fischer was the Indy Motor Speedway founder and credited with the concept of a "rolling start" led by a pace car.
The pace car was used to take the starting field on one unscored lap. The field would use the lap to warm up their engines, tires, and then at the conclusion of the lap, at a prescribed speed, the pace car would pull off the track and allow for a rolling or "flying" start.
The Indy 500 race is the most popular car race to this day and runs every Memorial Day. There were no races 1917 & 1918 as well as 1942-1945 due to the war years.
I was fortunate to visit the Indy 500 track and the Museum a few years ago and it is worth the trip. Enjoy! Mario
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