The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will add to its historic lore this weekend.
For the first time, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will share a track with the NASCAR Cup Series on the same weekend.
Though no driver will compete in both the GMR Grand Prix and Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records this weekend, crossovers between the two premier racing series in America aren’t as rare.
The two car owners who have fielded cars that won both the Indianapolis 500 and Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 in the same year will enter cars in both INDYCAR and NASCAR races this weekend.
Chip Ganassi, won both races in 2010 with Dario Franchitti and Jamie McMurray, respectively, will field three NTT INDYCAR SERIES entries and a pair of NASCAR Cup entries, while Roger Penske, who won both races in 2018 in addition to the GMR Grand Prix with drivers Will Power and Brad Keselowski, will field cars in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Since the first NASCAR race at IMS in 1994, 18 drivers have started in both the Indianapolis 500 and Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400. Here’s a look at them.
Juan Pablo Montoya
Montoya is the driver who came closest to winning both races. The Colombian is a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 (2000 and 2015) and finished second in his first Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 in 2007. He’s the only driver on this list who has competed in the GMR Grand Prix.
Tony Stewart
A five-time Indy 500 starter, Stewart won the 1996-97 NTT INDYCAR SERIES title and started from the pole in his first Indianapolis 500 in 1996. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion won the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 in 2005 and 2007.
Kurt Busch
The 2004 NASCAR Cup champion, who has 19 Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 starts, is one of two crossover drivers expected to compete in this weekend’s Cup race. Busch raced the Indianapolis 500 with Andretti Autosport as part of a Memorial Day Double in 2014. Busch finished sixth in the Indy 500 to earn Rookie of the Year honors.
A.J. Foyt
The first four-time winner in Indianapolis 500 history retired from driving with a lap at IMS in 1993 but came out of retirement to race in the first Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 in 1994.
John Andretti
The first driver to do the Memorial Day Double by racing the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day in 1994, started 12 Indianapolis 500s and 11 Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 s. He started races in 1994.
Danny Sullivan
The 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner made his only NASCAR Cup Series start at IMS. Sullivan raced in the inaugural Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 in 1994.
Sam Hornish Jr.
A three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, Hornish won the Indianapolis 500 in 2006 for Team Penske. He made eight Indianapolis 500 and five Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 starts.
Jacques Villeneuve
The Canadian, who won the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and CART championship, competed in the 2010 Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 with Braun Racing.
Robby Gordon
Gordon raced in 10 Indianapolis 500s and nearly won the race in 1999. He is one of four drivers to complete the Memorial Day Double and started 11 Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 s in his NASCAR career.
Danica Patrick
The first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500, Danica Patrick had six top-10 finishes in eight starts, including her groundbreaking fourth-place finish en route to Rookie of the Year honors in 2005. She made five Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 starts after leaving INDYCAR for NASCAR.
Larry Foyt
Before he joined the management of AJ Foyt Racing, Larry Foyt raced for the team in both NASCAR and INDYCAR. Foyt raced in the 2003 Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 and Indianapolis 500 in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Max Papis
An INDYCAR race winner, Papis made two Indianapolis 500 starts (2002 and 2006) for Cheever Racing and made his only Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 start in 2010. He’ll be at the track this weekend as a steward in INDYCAR Race Control.
Scott Pruett
A two-time INDYCAR race winner, Pruett made four Indianapolis 500 starts and two Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 starts, finishing 10th in 2000.
Geoff Brabham
A 10-time Indianapolis 500 starter, the Australian also made his sole NASCAR Cup Series start in the first Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 In 1994.
Patrick Carpentier
The five-time CART race winner made his only Indianapolis 500 start in 2005 with Cheever Racing. He made two Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 starts.
AJ Allmendinger
Allmendinger finished seventh in his only Indianapolis 500 start for Team Penske in 2013. He also made one of his 10 Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 starts in 2013.
Jason Leffler
The former USAC champion made three NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts, including the Indy 500 in a car supported by Roger Penske in 2000. He made five Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 starts.
J.J. Yeley
Yeley made eight NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts from 1998-2000, including the 1998 Indianapolis 500 before turning his attention to stock cars after winning all three USAC titles in 2003. He’s made nine Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 starts.
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