{"id":4054,"date":"2022-05-26T09:31:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T09:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=4054"},"modified":"2024-07-10T17:24:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T17:24:14","slug":"purdues-mark-on-the-indianapolis-500","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2022\/Q2\/purdues-mark-on-the-indianapolis-500","title":{"rendered":"Purdue’s mark on the Indianapolis 500"},"content":{"rendered":"

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —<\/p> \n

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\u2019s involvement began in 1919, when the Purdue \u201cAll American\u201d Marching Band became the first band to perform as part of the day\u2019s ceremonies. Over time, Boilermakers\u2019 enthusiasm and involvement in the sport has only grown \u2014 from the pre-race parade to the pits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

These stories, photos, videos and podcast<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Racing toward Indy 500 dreams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019 journey as he raced toward his dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n

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IndyCar Engineer Angela Ashmore Hopes Next Giant Leap is an Indy 500 Win<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The new episode of \u201cThis Is Purdue\u201d focuses on Purdue alumna Angela Ashmore and lifelong motorsports fan who is an engineer for Chip Ganassi Racing\u2019s No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda. Listen in as Ashmore discusses her experience with Purdue\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Listen<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From the grandstands to pit row<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One boy’s lifelong passion for racing leads him to chase his dreams of becoming an Indy 500 race engineer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purdue alumnus Nathan O\u2019Rourke 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\u2019Rourke is ready to take his next giant leap toward Victory Lane.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Back Home Again: Purdue and The Indy 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whether it’s engineers developing optimal vehicle performance, the \u201cAll-American\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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STEP INSIDE: Purdue Grand Prix Foundation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Through their participation in the Indy 500, Purdue University students display leadership, commitment, showmanship and empowerment.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Purdue \u201cAll-American\u201d Marching Band<\/span><\/h2>\n \n <\/div>\n\n