Purdue's mark on the Indianapolis 500

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —Purdue University has welcomed race fans home again for the Indianapolis 500 each year for more than a century. Over the years, Purdue alumni and students have represented the university at the race in many ways. Purdue’s involvement began in 1919, when the Purdue “All American” Marching Band became the first band to perform as part of the day’s ceremonies. Over time, Boilermakers’ enthusiasm and involvement in the sport has only grown — from the pre-race parade to the pits.

These stories, photos, videos and podcast celebrate how Boilermakers continue to shape the Indianapolis 500. Journalists are welcome to share or publish any of this content from Purdue Marketing and Communications. Media contact is Trevor Peters, peter37@purdue.edu.

Racing toward Indy 500 dreams

Purdue alumni Bill Pappas turned his love for racing from a young age into a career with the Indy 500. With two Indy 500 victories under his belt, Pappas has exemplified the Boilermaker's trademark of persistence. He currently serves as the IndyCar series' vice president of competition and race engineering. Read this story to learn more about Bill Pappas’ journey as he raced toward his dreams.

IndyCar Engineer Angela Ashmore Hopes Next Giant Leap is an Indy 500 Win

The new episode of “This Is Purdue” focuses on Purdue alumna Angela Ashmore and lifelong motorsports fan who is an engineer for Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda. Listen in as Ashmore discusses her experience with Purdue’s Formula Society of Automotive Engineers student club and how the problem-solving techniques she learned at the School of Mechanical Engineering helped propel her career.

From the grandstands to pit row

One boy's lifelong passion for racing leads him to chase his dreams of becoming an Indy 500 race engineer.

Purdue alumnus Nathan O’Rourke was a dedicated student, but his drive and curiosity to excel pushed him to create opportunities for himself in the racing industry. On the brink of his ninth year working at Andretti Autosport, O’Rourke is ready to take his next giant leap toward Victory Lane.

Back Home Again: Purdue and The Indy 500

Whether it's engineers developing optimal vehicle performance, the “All-American” Marching Band performing "Back Home Again in Indiana," or students representing the university in the 500 Festival Princess Program, Boilermakers have been integral to the Indianapolis 500 for more than 100 years.

STEP INSIDE: Purdue Grand Prix Foundation

"The Greatest Spectacle in College Racing" has been going since 1958 at Purdue, and students compete for scholarships and real-world experience. Four Purdue racing fans - Russ, Olivia, Dawn and Carter - share how the Grand Prix Foundation has helped them explore their interests, find community and take steps toward their next giant leap.

Through their participation in the Indy 500, Purdue University students display leadership, commitment, showmanship and empowerment.

The Purdue “All-American” Marching Band

Playing a part

Becoming a part of Purdue History

A community coming together

Leadership and showmanship

500 Festival Princesses 

Redefining the definition of a princess

Empowering others

Modeling community service

A passion for community

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu.

Compiled by: Margaret Mowrer

Media contact: Trevor Peters, peter37@purdue.edu