Indy 500: The 'Yellow Shirts' of Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Animal from the Muppets sways back and forward as a Yellow shirt employee drives to turn three Friday, July 19, 2024, during practice for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Brett Phelps/IndyStar
Michael Deliz, an IMS yellow shirt employee, directs traffic before sunrise, Friday, May 17, 2024, ahead of the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Joe Timmerman/IndyStar
Senior members of the IMS Safety Patrol are shown in the early 1970s wearing new, more comfortable short-sleeved yellow shirts in Gasoline Alley. The patrol still wore golden plastic 'bump' or 'batting' helmets. Those would be replaced by ball caps a few years later.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Three yellow shirts stand in the rain Sunday, May 26, 2024, ahead of the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Kristin Enzor/For IndyStar
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Yellow Shirt Denny Weddle dresses to impress at Rev 2024 on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at IMS.
Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar
Tom Bailey, a yellow shirt IMS employee, works near gasoline alley, Saturday, May 18, 2024, during practice ahead of qualifying for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Bailey has been working for IMS for six years, and this year will be his 45th Indy500. 'To this day I still feel like a kid,' Bailey said.
Joe Timmerman/IndyStar
A yellow shirt IMS employee walks away from the stands, Saturday, May 18, 2024, during qualifying for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Joe Timmerman/IndyStar
A member of the IMS Safety Patrol in the 1950s poses before a day at the track. The uniform for the patrol then was a dark blue, long-sleeved wool shirt, a light blue tie and a pith helmet. Patrol members also wore gold Indianapolis Motor Speedway Safety Patrol badges.
IMS
An April 13, 1949, wanted ad in the Indianapolis News sought men to work for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Safety Patrol.
This 1951 Chevrolet was one of three automobiles the U-Drive-It Company loaned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 1952 to be used by the Speedway Safety Patrol. Wally Middlesworth (right) of the safety patrol accepts the keys from Carl W. White with U-Drive-It.
IndyStar Archives
Dan Hagist (left) and son, Danny, have been yellow shirts at the track for several years. This will be Dan's 47th year and Danny's 16th year. Dan is in charge of all stands and mounds, while Danny takes care of the paddock area. The two pose for a portrait Friday, April 29, 2022, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Yellow shirts help direct pedestrian traffic in the pit area Friday, May 28, 2021, during Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rain is expected most of the day.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Dan Hagist (left) and son, Danny, have been yellow shirts at the track for several years. This will be Dan's 47th year and Danny's 16th year. Dan is in charge of all stands and mounds, while Danny takes care of the paddock area. The two chat Friday, April 29, 2022, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Debbie, a yellow shirt safety patrol member, directs traffic Sunday, May 21, 2023, along Gasoline Alley prior to second day of qualifying practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Yellow shirt Tom Riedy poses for a photo with fans he recalled from years past during Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead of the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 Friday, May 27, 2022.
MACABE BROWN / Courier & Press
Harold Snyder, on year 19 as a yellow shirt at the track, at the 99h running of the Indianapolis 500, Sunday May 24th, 2015.
Indystar.com
An army of yellow shirts hold back admiring fans as Helio Castroneves leaps onto the straightaway wall to climb the fence in victory after his third victory in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, 2009. It was a dream month in Indy for Castroneves, who started from the pole and finished first in the 93rd running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Charlie Nye / The Star).
Charlie Nye
Tom Bailey spent 40 years as a spectator in the grandstands watching racing at Indianpolis Motor Speedway. For the last four years, he's been working a yellow shirt for the track. Photographed Friday, May 13, 2022, during practice for the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Gary Mook/For IndyStar
A yellow shirt takes a picture of the Borg-Warner Trophy on Sunday, May 21, 2023, during the second day of qualifying ahead of the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Jef Richards/For IndyStar
8/3/03--w/story--BRICKYARD-A race fan has his cooler checked by IMS security before entering Gate 6 on Georgetown Road before the start ofthe NASCAR Brickyard 400 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday August 3. Staff Photo by Joe Vitti File #87058
Star File Photo
Yellow shirt Fred Pipes, center, dances with fans during Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead of the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 Friday, May 27, 2022.
MACABE BROWN / Courier & Press
Gasoline Alley sits mostly empty, except for yellow shirts, Friday, May 28, 2021, during Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rain is expected most of the day.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Yellow shirts line the gates in the pit area for the start of the Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, Sept.10, 2018.
Dawn Mitchell/IndyStar,
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