INDYCAR DRIVERS HAVE THEIR OWN FAVORITE MEMORABILIA
Verizon IndyCar Series drivers are often asked to sign items for fans ’ memorabilia collections . But what kind of memorabilia do the drivers themselves cherish ?
A sampling of drivers from the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in May provided a wide array of answers when they were asked their most prized piece of memorabilia .
Marco Andretti , Andretti Autosport : “ One of the coolest things I have is something my grandfather , Mario , gave me for my helmet collection : his retirement Speedway helmet , his ‘ Arrivederci Speedway ’ helmet from the last year he was in competition . I have a Michael Schumacher podium helmet , but Grandpa is definitely first . I ’ d be in trouble otherwise .” ( Marco is shown above with the retro-looking helmet he wore in this year ' s Indy 500 , an homage to the helmet grandfather Mario wore when he won the race in 1969 .)
Bryan Clauson , Dale Coyne / Jonathan Byrd ’ s Racing : “ I have a Bobby Unser painting that ’ s signed by Bobby and Roger Penske . That ’ s kind of cool . Something else I have from a U . S . serviceman , he sent me an American flag that flew over the air fields in Afghanistan .”
Scott Dixon , Chip Ganassi Racing : “ A signed Bruce McLaren picture . That ’ s probably the coolest one . I don ’ t know what year it ’ s from . It ’ s probably from the ’ 60s .”
Alex Tagliani , A . J . Foyt Enterprises : “ A signed Scott Dixon helmet .”
By Phillip B . Wilson | IndyCar PR ( Edited )
Graham Rahal , Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing : “ I ’ ve got Tiger Woods ’ first caddie jersey , I knew his caddie ‘ Fluff ’ ( Mike Cowan ), and I have the caddie jersey bib that ‘ Fluff ’ gave to me , signed by Tiger to me , which is pretty unique .”
Ryan Hunter-Reay , Andretti Autosport : “ I have a Michael Schumacher Nomex shirt that I like . I have a cool helmet collection with Will Power , James Hinchcliffe , Rubens Barrichello . They all have value to me .”
Carlos Munoz , Andretti Autosport : “ I had a picture from when I went to my first Indy car race at Fontana ( California , Auto Club Speedway ) in 2000 . I went to that race and printed a picture with Michael Andretti and with Juan Pablo Montoya . I was a little kid . I look at that and it ’ s good memories .”