Geoff Brabham, Alex Lloyd, Johnny Parsons Jr. and Rick Treadway in Special Feature
The field of Indianapolis 500 Mile Race veterans for the June 8 Sportscar Vintage Racing Association’s (SVRA) “Indy Legends Pro-Am” race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) continues to grow with the addition of four more great names. Geoff Brabham, Alex Lloyd, Johnny Parsons Jr. and Rick Treadway are all set to return to competition at IMS. They will compete with a field of as many as 20 other Indianapolis 500 veterans in a special feature of the SVRA’s June 6 – 8 “Brickyard Invitational” vintage race weekend.
The SVRA, America’s premier vintage racing organization, is creating a return to competition for the famous drivers with a 40 minute race of American muscle cars on the Speedway’s 2.43-mile Grand Prix road course. The cars for the Pro-Am will be 1967 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of “Group 6,” with an engine displacement limit of 355 cubic inches. The Indianapolis 500 veterans will be paired with amateur drivers, each taking a 20-minute stint. Five minutes will be allotted for driver change.
The four latest entries join four others previously announced: Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., 1992 Rookie-of-the-Year Lyn St. James, Willy T. Ribbs and Mark Dismore. Brabham, a 10-time starter in the Indianapolis 500, finished fourth in 1983. He also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring and is a four-time IMSA GT Prototype champion. Lloyd is a veteran of four Indianapolis 500s with a best finish of fourth in 2010. Among numerous other successes he was the Indy Lights champion in 2007, winning eight of 16 races. Johnny Parsons Jr., the son of 1950 Indianapolis 500 winner Johnnie Parsons, earned great success in his own right with 12 Indianapolis 500 starts and best finishes of fifth in 1977 and 1985. He is a highly decorated sprint and midget driver and was voted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1994. Rick Treadway raced in the IndyCar series for two years, qualifying for the 2002 Indianapolis 500. He is the son of Fred Treadway who won the 1997 Indianapolis 500 as a car owner.
The “Brickyard Invitational” weekend promises to be the largest gathering of race cars that has ever been assembled for competition in America. The SVRA has 11 groups of cars spanning 100 years of vintage machines and all will be in action at IMS. The exciting array of entries include exquisite examples of select pre-war machines, classic sports cars, Formula One and Le Mans prototypes as current as 2008. The storied 2.5-mile oval will be utilized as well with exhibition runs by a wide variety of cars including several of the crowd-favorite 1950’s-vintage Indianapolis 500 “roadsters.” Race fans can enjoy every minute of the action by taking advantage of overnight camping inside the Speedway.
“We are so thankful for the warm welcome we have received from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, their fans and all these great drivers,” said SVRA President and CEO Tony Parella. “I am having a ball getting to know the community and can clearly see why it is truly the world capital of motor racing.”
The Pro-Am cars and drivers will also participate in a Fan Walk through the starting grid prior to the opening ceremonies allowing fans to see the cars up close, take photos and chat with the drivers. Driver pairings and starting positions will be determined by a lottery. Entries to this event will be limited and all entry fees will be donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum Foundation.
Brickyard Invitational ticket information: A three-day general admission pass including Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8 costs $40. Single day general admission tickets are $15 on Friday, June 6, $20 on Saturday, June 7 and $25 on Sunday, June 8. Children 12 and under are admitted free each day when accompanied by an adult. Existing ticket customers to any 2014 IMS event are eligible to receive discounted general admission three-day passes for $30 until May 1 (save $10). Tent camping passes in Turn 3 of the IMS infield are available beginning Thursday afternoon, June 5 for $30, with RV camping available in the Northwest gravel lot for $60.
Fans can order Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational tickets at www.ims.com/tickets, by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday or by visiting the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.