Indianapolis 500

The Indy 500 that he and his father have always loved

Last weekend, I headed to Indianapolis to watch the Indianapolis 500, marking my 37th consecutive year attending. America’s iconic race has had a profound impact on my life and career. My love for the Indy 500 began as a boy growing up on a farm in southern Indiana.

My dad and I would watch the races on TV on Sunday nights during the heyday of racing legends like AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneba, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan and many others. I was a huge AJ Foyt fan and I rooted for him as hard as he did.

I stayed in Indiana for college and earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, about an hour north of Indianapolis. Purdue has a cooperative education (similar to an internship) program, and I was fortunate to get a job at BorgWarner Automotive Transmission Systems, an automotive parts manufacturer in Muncie, Indiana.

That led to my first visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 1987 (though I wasn’t able to attend the race that year…). It’s well-known that if you win the Indy 500, your face is featured on the BorgWarner Trophy. Working for BorgWarner also allowed me to participate in some of the company’s track activities. It was a dream come true.

My first visit to Indianapolis after graduating from college

Ken Morris visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time since graduating from college. Pictured here is Morris chatting with Mario Andretti (right) at an event in 2010.

The first time I watched the Indy 500 in person was on May 28, 1989, after graduating from Purdue University. I’ll never forget the sight of Rick Mears in the yellow Pennzoil No. 2 taking the outside of Turn 3, leading the field of 33 cars at full speed down the back straight on the first lap.

It gives me goosebumps and still makes me smile every time I think about it. That year, Rick finished 23rd with engine trouble, while Emerson Fittipaldi took the checkered flag in first place. Afterward, I had the opportunity to meet Rick in person and talk about his career, the circuit, and driving. I got to share the experience of watching him from the stands that day in 1989.

Since that first spectatorship, I’ve attended the Indy 500 every year, participated in all the on-track activities multiple times, and even had the chance to drive the pace car at the Indianapolis Grand Prix in 2014.

To a place I love with my wife and children

The photo shows Ken Morris, his wife Michelle, and their children at the 2021 Indy 500. Attending the Indy 500 as a family remains a tradition.

I love the traditions that the Indy 500 continues to uphold, like the playing of the “Taps” to honor the brave men and women of the U.S. military who have fallen, the pre-race flyover by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatic team, and the heart-warming singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana” every time .

I even got to sit behind the wheel of a Corvette pace car and let the Thunderbirds pilots experience the track from the passenger seat. It was a lot of fun seeing how much fun they had on the track and hearing about the speeds they reached during the flyover.

I wanted to pass on my love of racing to my children, so in 2008, I took my wife, Michelle, and our kids to “Curb Day.” This is the final practice session before the race, and it features fun events like concerts. By the way, Curb Day comes from the carburetor, but IndyCar hasn’t used carburetors for decades (laughs).

Considering the ages of my children at the time (4 and 3 years old), I thought it would be appropriate to give them a brief experience of the race atmosphere through their eyes and ears. Fortunately, they still love the Indy 500 as much as I do, and the four of us had a special time that weekend.

I want to share my passion for racing with GM owners.

Ken Morris, who will drive the Chevrolet Camaro pace car for the 2023 Indy 500, said he wants to share his passion for racing with all owners.

In 2009, I drove the Grand Marshal Car (a Chevrolet Camaro that leads the race for the first two or three laps before the green flag). That year, my passenger was former basketball coach and broadcaster Dick Vitale. Since then, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity every year to enjoy some amazing drives with many celebrities and sports figures.

“General Motors and GM Motorsports have given me the important task of driving hot laps in the pace car and driving the parade run every Saturday afternoon. I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of my childhood racing heroes, and it’s been an incredible experience. For a kid growing up in southern Indiana, it was like winning the lottery.”

“My passion and love for the Indy 500 and racing inspire me to create experiences that customers can enjoy. Whether it’s the thrill of driving a Chevrolet Corvette or the performance of a Cadillac V-Series Blackwing, GM strives to bring the excitement and tradition of the Indy 500 to every vehicle we produce. We strive to bring that heart-pounding excitement to all who share our love of racing.”

That’s why I’m so excited to return to my home state of Indiana each year to witness “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” As I look out at the packed stands, engulfed in that excitement, I imagine young boys and girls experiencing racing for the first time, imagining what it’s like inside a race car and dreaming of taking the checkered flag.