MOORESVILLE, N.C. — One of the most anticipated days for Indianapolis 500 ticket buyers is when the ticket image is unveiled for the big Memorial Day weekend race.
On Feb. 29, the image for the 108th Indianapolis 500 ticket was unveiled, featuring two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion and 2023 Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden.
Newgarden paid homage to one of his sponsors — Shell — when he unveiled the ticket for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Thursday, Feb. 29, in Indianapolis.
Newgarden earned his first victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” last May in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet, and one of the many honors bestowed upon the winner is the act of unveiling the ticket for the next year’s race.
Featuring the winning driver on the next year’s “500” ticket dates back to Mauri Rose’s appearance in 1948.
Nashville, Tenn., native Newgarden dropped the cover from a billboard-sized version of the colorful ticket, affixed to the side of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis parking garage and viewable from the parking lot of the Shell gas station.
The ticket image was designed in-house by Senior Art Director Mandy Walsh, the ticket features a photo of Newgarden jumping from the car on the infamous Yard of Bricks before climbing through the fence to join the fans.
In addition to honoring Shell with the location of the ticket unveil, Newgarden shared Shell gift cards with the first 108 fans as a continuation of his fan-focused celebrations.
Newgarden will defend his Indianapolis 500 victory Sunday, May 26, in the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.