A History of Ford's Indianapolis 500 Pace
Cars
by A. Wayne Ferens
Images from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
Wayne Ferens Collection
Published 4.27.2022
1932 Lincoln Model KB Edsel Ford 1
The Indianapolis 500 auto race has used a pace car every year since
1911. Carl G. Fisher, the founder of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is
credited with the concept of the "rolling start" led by a pace car in
the interest of safety. Nearly all races at the time, including Formula
One, utilized a standing start.
The pace car is used primarily to lead the assembled starting grid
around the track and later for “warm up” laps until the officials
release the field to start the race. Secondly, during yellow flag
caution periods, the pace car re-enters the track and picks up the
leader, bunching the field up at a reduced speed until the race is
resumed. Pace laps and caution period rules were modified over the years
to include the use of the pace car.
Since the opening of the track, auto manufacturers have been invited by
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to provide a pace car. It is a great
marketing opportunity to showcase a company’s latest creation in front
of thousands of spectators. The official “on-track” pace cars were
generally modified from their street legal counterparts, and as race car
speeds increased so did the modifications, which came to include safety
and performance items like strobe lights, multi-point harnesses, and
roll bars -- as well as engine, suspension and tire modifications.
Ford Motor Company was first invited to provide a pace car for the 20th
running of the race in 1932. Invitations were also extended to notable
figures in the automobile industry, auto racing and former winners of
the race. Ford provided a Lincoln KB Murphy Model 248 (pictured above)
two-door Convertible Roadster powered by a V12, 448 cu.in. 150
horsepower engine that was destined to power all Lincolns from 1933 to
1948. This powerful luxury car was driven by Edsel Ford (pacemaker) to
start the race.
The 1935 Ford Pace car
Ford was invited back in 1935 and provided a full-size Ford Model 48
Phaeton Convertible Sedan with a 221 cu.in. flat-head V8 rated at 85
horsepower at 3800 rpm. It had a three-speed transmission with a
Columbia two-speed rear axle. It was one of the most expensive Ford
models you could buy that year. The Ford pace car was driven by race
driver Harry Mack and the honorary referee that year -- aviator Amelia
Earhart. Ford also had four Miller-Ford V8 Indy Specials entered in the
1935 race.
The Speedway was closed in late 1941 by then owner and president Eddie
Rickenbacker when the United States entered World War II. The race would
not be held from 1942 to 1945. Wilbur Shaw, testing tires for Firestone
in 1944, was shocked at the Speedway's deterioration: grandstands were
falling down and weeds had sprouted between the track's bricks.
Eddie Rickenbacker lost interest and sold the track to Tony Hulman in
November 1945, and, after renovations, the Indy 500 was back in business
for the 1946 Memorial Day race to record crowds. Due to post war
shortages in material and manpower, it was decided to keep the rules the
same as most, if not all, cars would be reused from before the war. Few
if any new cars would be built and made available for the race on such
short notice.
The 1946 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet Pace Car, driven by Henry Ford II
Ford, back to producing cars like most manufacturers, was offering
warmed over 1942 models, and was again invited to participate with a
pace car, providing a first generation 1946 Lincoln Continental
Cabriolet Model H painted in a cream-color with maroon leather interior
powered by a 292 cu.in. L-head, 125 horsepower V12 with overdrive. The
pacemaker (driver) of the pace car was the company’s new president,
Henry Ford II. It was the last Indy pace car powered by more than eight
cylinders.
1950 Mercury Monterey light yellow Benson Ford
The 34th edition of the race took place at the Speedway on Tuesday, May
30, 1950. Ford was again represented by a 1950 Mercury Monterey pace car
(pictured above) powered by its hot 255 cu.in. flat-head V8 rated at 110
horsepower with a three-speed manual transmission. The pacemaker driving
the light PC yellow Mercury convertible was Benson Ford. In 1950,
Mercury had a milestone year celebrating its one millionth car produced
and sold about 300,000 units.
Over the years, Ford would be represented at the Speedway with eight
more pace cars that included both Ford and Mercury popular models. The
following is a list of those pace cars, the pacemakers that opened the
race and the assigned driver during caution periods:
A 1953 Ford Crestline Sunliner
1953 Ford Crestline Sunliner, driven by William Clay Ford Sr. Ford Motor
Company celebrated its 50th anniversary with this special edition pace
car with a PC white and gold color scheme and special graphics. It
featured the venerable 239 cu. in. flathead eight fitted with a 2v
Holley Model 2100 carburetor and two-speed Ford-O-Matic transmission.
This was the first Indy 500 pace car to be replicated by a manufacturer.
Henry Ford II had a limited edition of 2000 replicas built with a
two-speed automatic transmission for sale to the public.
The 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser, driven by Francis C. “Jack” Reith,
General Manager of the Mercury Division. Two PC yellow track cars made
powered by a 368 cu. in. OHV V8 rated at 290 hp with 2-speed automatic.
The 4125-pound ragtop was the rarest Mercury - with just 1265 built --
and the most expensive at $4103.
The 1961 Ford Thunderbird Pace Car
1961 Ford Thunderbird, driven by Sam Hanks. Two track cars and 32
festival cars made. The cars were powered by a 390 cu.in. 300 Horsepower
OHV V8 engine with a Holley 4-bbl carburetor and a three-speed Ford-O-Matic
transmission.
The 1964 Ford Mustang Pace Car
1964 Ford Mustang, driven by Benson Ford. Three pearl white convertible
track cars, 33 Wimbledon white festival convertible cars and 200 hardtop
promo cars were made. The track cars had an E&F specially prepared
'K'-code 289 cu. in. OHV V8 engine with a Toploader four-speed manual
transmission. At the rear was a limited slip differential. The interior
had white front bucket seats with blue carpet & trim and red seat belts.
The Mustang was capable of speeds of over 140 mph.
The 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT Pace Car
1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT, driven by Benson Ford. Three 427 cu.in.
powered track cars, 100 festival cars with 390 cu. in. 335 hp V8s with
the sturdy C-6 automatic transmission and 3:25 differential were made
for the race. All were cardinal red with parchment-toned interior. Only
33 were commissioned to be "parade cars" and were specially equipped
with rear frame-mounted flag holders.
The 1968 Ford Torino GT Pace Car in Wimbleton white
1968 Ford Torino GT, driven by Benson Ford. Two track cars with 428
cu.in. V8 engines and C-6 automatic transmissions, and 157 Wimbledon
white Indy PC editions were made and, of those, 12 were built with the
390 V8. The others were equipped with the Ford 5.0L V8 engine.
The 1979 Ford Mustang Pace Car
1979 Ford Mustang driven prior to the race by Jackie Stewart and Jim
Rathmann during the race. Three track cars were made and 10,478 replicas
were produced. The track cars had a modified 302 cu.in. OHV V8 and a C-4
select shift automatic transmission. The major body modification was the
installation of a special T-roof.
The 1994 Ford Mustang Cobra Pace Car
1994 Ford Mustang Cobra driven prior to the race by Parnelli Jones and
Don Bailey during the race. This was the third Mustang to pace the Indy
500 and was powered by Ford's SVO 5.0L V8 engine that produced 240
horsepower. 1,000 replicas of the Rio red-and-tan leather convertibles
were produced.
Starting in the mid-1950s, other manufacturers who provided the official
pace car started selling replica pace cars to the public. These special
edition Indy replicas would carry the original pace car color as well as
the official "Indy 500" decals. A performance package upgrade may have
been included as well.
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