List of 500 Veterans attending the autograph sessions - Anyone have one?

[MichaelP]

Indianapolis 500 veteran drivers signing autographs Saturday afternoon, May 26 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Legends Day Honoring Roger Penske presented by Shell (list subject to change):
Bill Alsup
Jeff Andretti
Donnie Beechler
Tom Bagley
Tom Bigelow
Billy Boat
Brian Bonner
Buzz Calkins
Pancho Carter
Steve Chassey
Derek Daly
Spike Gehlhausen
Paul Goldsmith
Stephan Gregoire
Bob Harkey
Andy Hillenburg
Herm Johnson
Bernard Jourdain
Mel Kenyon
Jimmy Kite
Phil Krueger
Lee Kunzman
Bob Lazier
Greg Leffler
Robby McGehee
John Mahler
Dr. Jack Miller
Rocky Moran
Max Papis
Johnny Parsons
Bill Puterbaugh
Willy T. Ribbs
Sam Schmidt
Bill Simpson
Jerry Sneva
Didier Theys
Johnny Unser
Bill Vukovich II
Bill Whittington
Cory Witherill
Denny Zimmerman

I was surprised to learn last year that Sam still signs autographs, and quite legibly at that.

[lotuspoweredbyford]

awesome. now i just need to know which drivers are signing at 1 and which are signing at 3

I've got the breakdowns. Someone remind me to post them tonight.

[Tree0404]

I've got the breakdowns. Someone remind me to post them tonight.

too early for a reminder?

[lotuspoweredbyford]

Here you go... PLEASE remember that this list is still subject to change, additions/subtractions.

GROUP 1

Bill Alsup
John Andretti
Jeff Andretti
Tom Bigelow
Pancho Carter
Affonso Giaffone
Paul Goldsmith
Bob Harkey
Jon Herb
Andy Hillenburg
Mel Kenyon
Steve Knapp
Lee Kunzman
Bob Lazier
Greg Leffler
Pippa Mann
Robby McGehee
Dr. Jack Miller
Sam Schmidt
Bill Simpson
Jerry Sneva
Lyn St. James
Johnny Unser
Bill Vukovich
Bill Whittington

[lotuspoweredbyford]

GROUP 2

Donnie Beechler
Tom Bagley
Billy Boat
Brian Bonner
Buzz Calkins
Steve Chassey
Derek Daly
Spike Gelhausen
Stephan Gregoire
Herm Johnson
Bernard Jourdain
Jimmy Kite
Phil Krueger
John Mahler
Max Papis
Johnny Parsons
Bill Puterbaugh
Didier Theys
Cory Witherill
Denny Zimmerman



POSSIBLE additions not yet in a group

Geoff Brabham
Willy T. Ribbs
Rocky Moran

[lotuspoweredbyford]

I was surprised to learn last year that Sam still signs autographs, and quite legibly at that.

He signs ALMOST identical to his pre-accident autograph

[AR]

Oh wow! I hope Geoff Brabham makes it. He was a badazz driver in a badazz car back in the 90's in that Nissan GTP. Never got his autograph back then - he's number 1 on my "do not have" list.

[lotuspoweredbyford]

See, this is why I didn't want to post a list prior to the official list.



We have to drop

Bernard Jourdain
Herm Johnson
Robby McGehee


It looks like add

Adrian Fernandez
Billy Roe

[uscalum]

Apparently Friday (Carb Day) there will be an autograph session at the museum of former winners (eight maybe?)...names not announced...Donald says at 10 am.

Is this official? I have not seen anything?

Thanks

[Diezelhue]

Sounds good Brabham and fernandez would be cool adds.

[Diezelhue]

Has anyone been able to confirm or get more information about a winners signing on Carb day. Someone here mentioned it but I find nothing anywhere saying it is happening?

[Doctorindy]

Donald talked about the winners session on Friday during wed's Talk of Gasoline Alley...check the podcast at the very end.

[lotuspoweredbyford]

Has anyone been able to confirm or get more information about a winners signing on Carb day. Someone here mentioned it but I find nothing anywhere saying it is happening?

Yes, 10AM on Friday.

[ajwest92]

Just one question...How does Schmidt sign? I thought he was a quadriplegic unless he got some movement in his hands.

[lotuspoweredbyford]

Just one question...How does Schmidt sign? I thought he was a quadriplegic unless he got some movement in his hands.

He signs with a pen in his mouth.

[aaron5572]

LOL

[Doctorindy]

The former winners session at the museum was quiet...only 4 showed up...and actually not a lot of people in there either....Gil, Brack, Sneva, and unca Bobby.

Sneva had his grandkid...kinda neat to bring you grandson to see YOUR Indy 500 winning race car in the museum.

[skidmark]

The former winners session at the museum was quiet...only 4 showed up...and actually not a lot of people in there either....Gil, Brack, Sneva, and unca Bobby.

Yeah, it was quiet. There doesn't really appear to be any marketing around these events. I had read about it here on TF and showed up. As of 9:30p, even the front desk people didn't know who was going to show up - all they knew was that some former winners were going to be there.

The 4 guys that did show were great, and as an added bonus, Donald Davidson was playing a security/usher role. He stopped and talked to people in line, took photos, signed autographs, and was just happy to be there, as you'd expect - a class act.

[uscalum]

Did anybody see Johncock on race day? Heard he might be in town that morning.

[MichaelP]

Did anybody see Johncock on race day? Heard he might be in town that morning.

Supposedly he did a lap around the track in pre-race festivities.

[uscalum]

Thanks!

Also curious, does IMS pay the drivers to attend to autogrpah sessions? I assume that includes lodging.

What about during the month week when you see B. Unser, Parnelli, etc.?

[kevin99]

Supposedly he did a lap around the track in pre-race festivities.

I saw him but did not recognize who it was until they announced him.

What about during the month week when you see B. Unser, Parnelli, etc.?

Parnelli was there on Wednesday. Got another autograph.

[Glenn]

Supposedly he did a lap around the track in pre-race festivities.

Yes he did. I was pleased to see Gordie at IMS again, it's been a while.

[ajwest92]

I got Parnelli that Wednesday as well...never realized how truly great a driver he was until I read over the pamphlet they gave us while we were in line. Amazing career...makes me wish that more drivers would get into other forms of racing instead of being "specialized".