Purdue’s mark on the Indianapolis 500

Purdue welcomes race fans back home again for the Indianapolis 500 

From the “All-American” Marching Band performing across the iconic yard of bricks to Purdue engineers in the pits, we have helped welcome fans back home again to Indiana for more than 100 years. 

In 1919, the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band became the first band to perform as part of the day’s ceremonies. Its signature performance of “Back Home Again in Indiana” is known to draw cheers and tears. 

Over the years, Purdue has sent many of its world-renowned engineers to the race, too. Many got their start in Purdue’s own big race — the annual Grand Prix. Since 1958, Boilermaker students, who affectionately call it “The Greatest Spectacle in College Racing,” use the student-run go-kart race to exercise their skills and enthusiasm for motorsports. Generations of Purdue-trained engineers have worked in the pits at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, preparing IndyCar drivers for the 500-mile race. 

Boilermakers’ enthusiasm and involvement in the sport has only grown — from the prerace parade to the pits. Dozens of Purdue women have served as ambassadors in the 500 Festival Princess Program, stepping into leadership opportunities that have shaped the state of Indiana. And Purdue has served as the host band for the AES 500 Festival Parade since its inception in 1957. 

Start your engines and read on to explore how Boilermakers continue to shape the Indianapolis 500.

The Big Bass Drum crew — celebrating 100 years of the drum in 2022 — perform on the track of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Purdue “All-American” Marching Band became the first band to perform at the Indianapolis 500 in 1919. Photo credit: Purdue University/John Underwood
Angela Ashmore, engineer with Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda, at work on a computer trackside.
Angela Ashmore (BS mechanical engineering ’10 and MS mechanical engineering ’13) serves as engineer with Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda. Photo credit: Purdue University/John Underwood
Bill Pappas offers Justin Wilson some encouragement before the start of the 2013 Indy 500.
Justin Wilson (right) and Bill Pappas, Purdue mechanical engineering alumnus and Wilson’s race engineer, before the start of the 2013 Indy 500. Photo credit: Bill Pappas
Indiana’s top-ranked public university welcomed spectators to the 2025 Indy 500 with this billboard located just outside Gate 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Contributed photo)
Nathan O’Rourke in conversation with driver Colton Herta.
Nathan O’Rourke (BS mechanical engineering ’04) (left), is lead engineer for Andretti Autosport’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda driven by Colton Herta. Photo credit: Andretti Autosport Ignite Media
Jill Houin is the only Indiana dairy farmer to present the Indianapolis 500’s winning driver with the celebratory milk twice. The Purdue alumna handled those duties in both 2020 and 2021. (Photo courtesy of Jill Houin)
Brian Bobay, tour operations manager at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, and many of his colleagues at the museum are Purdue alumni. (Purdue University photo)
Kim Minich and her husband, Luke – whom she met at Purdue – are raising six children at their family’s Triple M Dairy in La Porte, Indiana. (Photo courtesy of American Dairy Association Indiana)
An exclusive partnership between Purdue University and Juncos Hollinger Racing has created opportunities for students like mechanical engineering senior Zachary Nelson to start their careers in motorsports. (Purdue University / Jared Pike)
Several Boilermakers are always among the 33 college students selected annually as 500 Festival Princesses. The state’s brightest young women serve as ambassadors for the Indy 500 — and for their communities — while participating in the program. (Purdue University photo)
Jennifer Short, center, with Scott Dixon, immediate left of Short, and the rest of the supporting crew for his No. 9 PNC Bank Honda. (Photo courtesy of Chip Ganassi Racing)
Joining the Society of Women Engineers student organization at Purdue led Jennifer Short to discover her passion for motorsports, and an internship with Chip Ganassi Racing. (Photo courtesy of Chip Ganassi Racing)

Podcast Ep. 108: The Making of the Indy 500: Meet the Boilermakers Behind the Scenes of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to three Boilermakers who work behind the scenes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to execute “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” — the Indianapolis 500. Listen as David Letherman (BS management ’15),

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Motorsports engineering alumna Lizzie Todd, a systems engineer for the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team

From childhood racing fanatic to IndyCar engineer

Lizzie Todd remembers the childhood moment when a future racing engineer was born.

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Brian Bobay stands inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

An insider’s perspective on the new and improved IMS Museum

IMS Museum guests now receive a musical welcome from a group that Boilermakers know well.

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Purdue Grand Prix alums Al Wurster, Dave Fuhrman and Bill Shumaker hold up an Indianapolis Motor Speedway brick with Purdue Grand Prix Foundation president Wil Rohrbach.

Bringing a treasured Indy 500 tradition to the Purdue Grand Prix

Only two U.S. racetracks have original bricks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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