Year End Recap
2023
Year in Review - 2023
The editorial staff at IMS.com took a look back at the 10 biggest moments of 2023 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion.
No. 1: Newgarden Executes Rare Last-Lap Pass for First ‘500’ Win
Josef Newgarden’s margin of victory over 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson was .0974 of a second in a thriller before a packed IMS. It was the fourth-closest finish in “500” history and only the third time the race was decided on a final-lap pass.
No. 2: Larson Announced for 2024 Indy 500
Three men with NASCAR championships – Kyle Larson driving a Rick Hendrick-backed car with guidance from Jeff Gordon – will be part of an Arrow McLaren entry in the 108th Running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
No. 3: IMS Has $1.058 Billion Impact on Local Economy
Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its Month of May activities, including its iconic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, delivered $1.058 billion in annual economic activity, according to a study released in October by the Indiana University Public Policy Institute.
No. 4: Graham Rahal Bumped from ‘500’ Field
Graham Rahal endured the agonizing experience of being without a chair when the music stopped after Indianapolis 500 qualifying.
No. 5: IMS Museum Begins $89 Million Transformation
The new exhibits and experiences set to open in the spring of 2025 will bring to life the IMS Museum’s vision to create a global destination that provides interactive, immersive and diverse Indianapolis 500 storytelling and educational experiences that can be enjoyed by guests of all ages.
No. 6: NASCAR/INDYCAR Deliver Big Final Weekend on Road Course
Michael McDowell, Ty Gibbs, Scott Dixon and Hunter McElrea were race winners in the three-day NASCAR-INDYCAR extravaganza that featured some of the best road racing of the season.
No. 7: IMSA Returns to IMS; Endurance Race Coming in ‘24
Elite North American sports car racing returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2023, and it will come back in a longer form next year.
No. 8: Palou’s Title Run Took Shape at IMS in May
Alex Palou jump-started his run toward a second NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in three seasons with a victory in the GMR Grand Prix in May at IMS.
No. 9: Total Solar Eclipse Coming to IMS on April 8
The Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is a spectacle that happens once a year. Next April, the iconic facility will host an event 819 years in the making.
No. 10: IMS Honored for Sustainability Efforts
Indianapolis Motor Speedway continued its role as one of the world leaders in sustainability among sporting venues in 2023.