A statement from Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment, about the recent passing of longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway board member Jack Snyder:

At 10 a.m. July 20, a Mass of Christian Burial will celebrate the life of Jack Snyder. To read Jack’s obituary, click here.

You will read that Jack was a remarkable man ... an athlete, a brilliant lawyer, a civic leader, and a devoted family man. You will also learn that Jack did legal work for Tony Hulman and for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and served on the IMS Board of Directors.

I feel compelled to say more for the understanding of all who love IMS.

It should be known that after Tony Hulman and now Roger Penske, few – if any – individuals have done more to nurture and protect IMS.

Jack was brilliant, self-effacing, steadfast and resilient as he counseled the Hulman-George Family and all of us.

His importance to IMS and INDYCAR would be difficult to exaggerate. I hope IMS/INDYCAR fans everywhere will remember Jack Snyder with gratitude whenever they think about the history of the Racing Capital of the World.