Skip to content

JI500

Johnson's Indy 500 – Sharing Indy History since 1998.

  • The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • Audio Downloads
  • Indy 500 Stats
  • Daily Trackside Reports

History of Indy 500 Logos – The 1990s

  • Home
  • 2015
  • September
  • 1
  • History of Indy 500 Logos – The 1990s
by: doctorindy500Posted on September 1, 2015July 15, 2020

Since the track opened in 1909, the now-famous wheel & wing logo has graced the official program, tickets, and other paraphernalia for the Indianapolis 500. In 1981 the Speedway began marketing the race in official capacity with a dedicated unique annual logo. This logo was printed on the ticket, the program cover, the official poster, on signage around the facility, on official USAC inspection decals, on television and print media, on credentials, pace car graphics, merchandise, apparel, patches, hats, and numerous other paraphernalia. We continue our look at these works of art, picking up with the 1990s.

History of Indianapolis 500 Logos
1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Brickyard 400

1990

logo90

The race logo for 1990 continued the customary red/blue/white color scheme from the 1980s, and once again (like 1985) the wheel & wing logo was situated in the middle zero of the “500” with detailed feathers. Although for 1990, the blue appeared to be a darker version in nearly all versions. The ordinal was spelled out again, and a somewhat fancier, propriety font was used, keeping up the trend of a mixed-case “Indianapolis” rather than all-caps. On the pace car (Chevrolet Beretta), the logo appeared back on the front fenders in an all-black version.

1991

logo91 1991title 1991lotby

The much-anticipated and much-hyped 75th Running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1991 celebrated the “Diamond Jubilee” edition of the race. The race logo used a thin, elegant font (all-caps) and abstract version of the wing & wheel, all encapsulated in a diamond shape. A small diamond emblem at the bottom gave extra emphasis of the anniversary.

The customary red/blue/white color scheme was used, and was conveniently embraced, as the 1991 race happened to occur in the months immediately following Operation Desert Storm. The month of May 1991 was replete with honors and accolades for the troops returning from the Persian Gulf. Though the original version of the logo was mostly transparent, a stylized version appeared on ABC-TV graphics and on the official highlight film which was filled with a red background and changed the lettering to a shiny chrome blue effect. On these two variations, the small banner with the date was removed.

On the Dodge Viper pace car, the logo appeared on the fenders, but was difficult to see from much of a distance, as the red paint offered very little contract to the thinly-drawn logo.

1992

logo92NIK_3807

The 1992 logo was red/white/blue, with red as the prevailing color. Back for the first time since 1988 was the article “THE” preceding the ordinal (“SEVENTY SIXTH”). On the Cadillac Allante pace car, the logo was placed on the rear fenders, and was an outlined, all-silver version.

1993

logo93NIK_4466NIK_3336

Starting in 1993, the race logos started featuring a silhouette of an Indy race car. The 1993 logo shows a car (whether looking head on or from directly behind). On the Chevrolet Camaro pace car, the logo moved back to the front fender, and appeared in an all-white version. The ordinal was once again spelled out with the word “THE.”

1994

logo94

The logo for the 1994 race would be the last in the series of the strictly red/white/blue color scheme (but not the last ever to be those colors). For the second year in the row, the silhouette of Indy race cars (this time multiple cars) was part of the logo, and the 1994 logo has the distinction of being the “tallest” of all logos, with a decided upright orientation. For the final time, the ordinal was spelled out with the word “THE.”

On the Ford Mustang Cobra pace car, the logo decal moved to the rear fender, and was an all-white version. This provided adequate contrast on the red paint job, as opposed to the 1991 logo (see above).

1995

logo95 100_89821995title

For the first time, the race logo sported different colors from the years before. A contemporary design of green, maroon, and, gray was used, with the race car silhouette this time simply an outline. The wing & wheel logo was depicted in an abstract form, with the wings as bars, and the wheel replaced with the numbers “500” in the middle. A stylized version of the logo appeared on television with the outline of the car filled in with a silver-gray shading, the green wings changed to blue, and all text removed.

The colors of the logo and the 1995 Chevrolet corvette pace car were similar, and the logo decal was moved to the door. In the pace car interior, the logo was embroidered on the headrests.

1996

1996indybig 1996title1996-dodge-viper-indy-pace-car_8566

A colorful logo graced the 1996 Indianapolis 500, the first of the Indy Racing League era. For the first time, a race car was drawn, rather than silhouetted. The car was drawn along a round shape which resembled a track orbiting around the numbers “500.” The original version of the logo was depicted upright, with the letters and numbers slanted upwards. However, on the front fender of the pace car (Dodge Viper GTS) and in other instances, it was depicted tilted, with the “500” flat and the letters slanting forward.

1997

1997indybig 1997title

Luyendyk1997pacecar2
1997 Oldsmobile Aurora pace car

As the logos were beginning to become more elaborate as the 1990s progressed, the 1997 version was perhaps the most unique thus far. A shield that resembled a coat of arms made up the 1997 race logo, and the race car depicted matched the new IRL style chassis rolled out during the 1997 season. This was also the first logo to write the ordinal (“81st”) as a number since 1991.

On the Oldsmobile Aurora pace car, a new trend began in 1997, mirroring a style from the 1982 pace car. A large, prominent logo decal was affixed to the driver and passenger side doors. Most pace cars going forward would feature a logo graphic similar to this style.

1998

1998indybig 1998title100_1257

The most-colorful logo of the 1990s came in 1998. The logo loosely matched the likewise yellow and purple Chevrolet Corvette pace car. Eschewing the trend that was set a year earlier, the logo was not placed on the side doors, but on the front fender, like numerous other pace cars from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

1999

1999indybig 1999title

The final logo of the 1990s was also perhaps the most “cartoonish.” The triangular shape loosely resembled the 1991 diamond logo. On the Chevrolet Monte Carlo pace car (a car replete with decal graphics), the logo’s lettering (“Indianapolis” and “500”) were placed on the doors, but without the rest of the logo. A smaller copy of the logo was placed on the front quarter panel, ahead of the front wheels.

History of Indianapolis 500 Logos
1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Brickyard 400

References

  • 1989 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1990 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1991 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1992 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1993 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1994 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1995 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1996 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1997 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1998 Indianapolis 500 Official Program – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 1991 Indianapolis 500 Telecast – May 26, 1991 (ABC-TV)
  • 1995 Indianapolis 500 Telecast – May 28, 1995 (ABC-TV)
  • 1996 Indianapolis 500 Telecast – May 26, 1996 (ABC-TV)
  • 1997 Indianapolis 500 Telecast – May 27, 1997 (ABC-TV)
  • 1998 Indianapolis 500 Telecast – May 24, 1998 (ABC-TV)
  • 1999 Indianapolis 500 Telecast – May 30, 1999 (ABC-TV)
  • “Legends of the Brickyard” – 1991 Indianapolis 500, ESPN
  • Photographs from the JI500 Collection

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...
Categories:
  • Indianapolis 500
  • Indy Logos
Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndy 500IndyCarLogoWing and wheel

Post navigation

History/Heroes of the 500
The 2013 race: 84 lead changes (unofficially)

Follow Us

  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Email

Top Posts & Pages

  • Indy 500 on Television - Part 1 (1949-1963)
  • Indy 500 Car Number History
  • Indianapolis 500 All-Time Starts
  • Indianapolis 500 Statistics
  • Indianapolis 500 - Runner Up Finishers
Bobby Rahal - 1986 Budweiser Truesports March/Cosworth

Pages

  • About
  • Audio Downloads
  • Daily Trackside Report Archive
  • Indianapolis 500 Statistics
  • The Talk of Gasoline Alley

Articles

  • Indy 500 on Television – Part 1 (1949-1963)
  • Indy 500 on Television – Part 2 (1964-1970)
  • The Second Starting Position Jinx
  • The Four Time Winners
  • History of Indy 500 Logos – The 1980s
  • History of Indy 500 Logos – The 1990s
  • History of Indy 500 Logos – The 2000s
  • History of Indy 500 Logos – The 2010s
  • History of Brickyard 400 Logos
  • The Balloon Spectacle
  • Delaying the Indy 500
  • The new garages are…over 30 years old!?!
  • The Fastest 500s (Part 1)
  • The Fastest 500s (Part 2)
  • The 2013 race: 84 lead changes (unofficially)
  • All-Night Race Party
  • The Grass Strip

Audio Downloads

  • 2000 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2001 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2002 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2003 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2004 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2005 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2006 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2007 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2008 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2009 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2010 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2011 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2012 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2013 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2014 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2015 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2016 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2017 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2018 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2019 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2020 The Talk of Gasoline Alley
  • 2021 Beyond The Bricks
  • 2022 Beyond the Bricks
  • 2023 Beyond the Bricks
  • History/Heroes of the 500

Statistics

  • Indy 500 Winners
  • Indy 500 Pole Winners
  • Indy 500 Closest Finishes
  • Indy 500 Lap Leaders
  • Indy 500 All-Time Starts
  • Indy 500 Rookie of the Year
  • Indy 500 Track Records
  • Indy 500 Car Number History
  • Indy 500 – Runner Up Finishers
  • Indy 500 Mileage Leaders
  • Indy 500 Officials
  • The Four Time Winners
  • IMS Road Course Races

Search

Archives

  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • September 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • October 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • October 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • April 2017
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015

Blog Stats

  • 163,779 views
"You just don't know what Indy means."

Countdown to “500”

2023 Indianapolis 500May 28, 2023
The 107th Indianapolis 500

Blogroll

  • 107.5/1070 The Fan
  • 16th And Georgetown
  • 500 Festival
  • Dan's Indy Speedway
  • David Land
  • Dinner with Racers
  • Fastest 33
  • Field of 33
  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • Indy Pace Cars
  • IndyCar
  • Marshall Pruett podcasts
  • National Indy 500 Collectors Club
  • Oil Pressure
  • Openwheel
  • Russ Thompson Racing
  • Speedway Signatures LLC
  • The Apex
  • The First Super Speedway
  • The Indianapolis Star
  • TrackForum

Wikipedia Box Scores

  • 1911 Indianapolis 500
  • 1912 Indianapolis 500
  • 1913 Indianapolis 500
  • 1914 Indianapolis 500
  • 1915 Indianapolis 500
  • 1916 Indianapolis 500
  • 1919 Indianapolis 500
  • 1920 Indianapolis 500
  • 1921 Indianapolis 500
  • 1922 Indianapolis 500
  • 1923 Indianapolis 500
  • 1924 Indianapolis 500
  • 1925 Indianapolis 500
  • 1926 Indianapolis 500
  • 1927 Indianapolis 500
  • 1928 Indianapolis 500
  • 1929 Indianapolis 500
  • 1930 Indianapolis 500
  • 1931 Indianapolis 500
  • 1932 Indianapolis 500
  • 1933 Indianapolis 500
  • 1934 Indianapolis 500
  • 1935 Indianapolis 500
  • 1936 Indianapolis 500
  • 1937 Indianapolis 500
  • 1938 Indianapolis 500
  • 1939 Indianapolis 500
  • 1940 Indianapolis 500
  • 1941 Indianapolis 500
  • 1946 Indianapolis 500
  • 1947 Indianapolis 500
  • 1948 Indianapolis 500
  • 1949 Indianapolis 500
  • 1950 Indianapolis 500
  • 1951 Indianapolis 500
  • 1952 Indianapolis 500
  • 1953 Indianapolis 500
  • 1954 Indianapolis 500
  • 1955 Indianapolis 500
  • 1956 Indianapolis 500
  • 1957 Indianapolis 500
  • 1958 Indianapolis 500
  • 1959 Indianapolis 500
  • 1960 Indianapolis 500
  • 1961 Indianapolis 500
  • 1962 Indianapolis 500
  • 1963 Indianapolis 500
  • 1964 Indianapolis 500
  • 1965 Indianapolis 500
  • 1966 Indianapolis 500
  • 1967 Indianapolis 500
  • 1968 Indianapolis 500
  • 1969 Indianapolis 500
  • 1970 Indianapolis 500
  • 1971 Indianapolis 500
  • 1972 Indianapolis 500
  • 1973 Indianapolis 500
  • 1974 Indianapolis 500
  • 1975 Indianapolis 500
  • 1976 Indianapolis 500
  • 1977 Indianapolis 500
  • 1978 Indianapolis 500
  • 1979 Indianapolis 500
  • 1980 Indianapolis 500
  • 1981 Indianapolis 500
  • 1982 Indianapolis 500
  • 1983 Indianapolis 500
  • 1984 Indianapolis 500
  • 1985 Indianapolis 500
  • 1986 Indianapolis 500
  • 1987 Indianapolis 500
  • 1988 Indianapolis 500
  • 1989 Indianapolis 500
  • 1990 Indianapolis 500
  • 1991 Indianapolis 500
  • 1992 Indianapolis 500
  • 1993 Indianapolis 500
  • 1994 Indianapolis 500
  • 1995 Indianapolis 500
  • 1996 Indianapolis 500
  • 1997 Indianapolis 500
  • 1998 Indianapolis 500
  • 1999 Indianapolis 500
  • 2000 Indianapolis 500
  • 2001 Indianapolis 500
  • 2002 Indianapolis 500
  • 2003 Indianapolis 500
  • 2004 Indianapolis 500
  • 2005 Indianapolis 500
  • 2006 Indianapolis 500
  • 2007 Indianapolis 500
  • 2008 Indianapolis 500
  • 2009 Indianapolis 500
  • 2010 Indianapolis 500
  • 2011 Indianapolis 500
  • 2012 Indianapolis 500
  • 2013 Indianapolis 500
  • 2014 Indianapolis 500
  • 2015 Indianapolis 500
  • 2016 Indianapolis 500
  • 2017 Indianapolis 500
  • 2018 Indianapolis 500
  • 2019 Indianapolis 500
  • 2020 Indianapolis 500
  • 2021 Indianapolis 500
  • 2022 Indianapolis 500
  • 2023 Indianapolis 500

Friends of JI500!

Do you enjoy the content here at JI500? If so, consider making a friendly donation and keep JI500 up and running for years to come.

Legal

INDIANAPOLIS 500©
INDY 500©
INDY©
IndyCar© et. al.
Are all registered trademarks owned by Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC
Special thanks to many.

Hosting

This site was originally founded August 6, 1998. From 1998-2009, it was hosted by geocities. From May 2009 to July 2015, this site was hosted by  Trackforum.com

On July 31, 2015, the content was formally moved to WordPress.

JI500

This site is not affiliated with WIBC/WFNI, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar, et. al.

This site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. No soliciting.

If you use any audio content from this site, attribute it to doctorindy.com

Copyright © 1998 — 2023

Copyright © 2023 JI500 All Rights Reserved | Travel Master by Theme Palace
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d bloggers like this: