The Indy 500 Logo for 2023 Explained
Nearly five million fans tune in to watch the annual Indy 500, one of the most prestigious motorsport races in the world.
Each year, a presenting sponsor obtains the rights to have their company identity placed within the logo of the race. Gainbridge, the presenting sponsor since 2019, extended its sponsorship and signed a multi-year contract extension.
Recently, the online investment platform unveiled the Indy 500 logo for 2023. Fans will recognize the race’s symbol anywhere. Here’s how the iconic logo came to be.
A history of the Indy 500 logos
Since the first race in 1909, the infamous wheel and wing logo has played an integral part in the tickets, program, and merchandise. In 1981, the Indianapolis Speedway started using a unique annual Indy 500 logo to promote the race. It’s used on facility signage, print and TV media, pace car graphics, and more.
According to Dr. Indy, ever since Gainbridge started sponsoring the Indy 500 in 2019, “the Speedway has utilized a ‘consistent branding system,’ which consists of a common basic layout, fonts, and appearance.” Every logo for subsequent years has been unique, with a different outline shape and background color.
In 2020, the color of the shield changed to maroon, with the logo capturing four essential elements of “tradition, speed, excitement, and innovation.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the date, May 24, 2020, was removed from the original logo since the race did not occur until later that year in August.
The 2021 logo featured the Pagoda, and the rectangular shape replicated the racetrack. The color changed to dark blue. But the wheel and wing emblem and “Presented by Gainbridge” remained in the same spot on the logo.
A few days before the 2021 Indy 500, a new logo for 2022 was released, using similar fonts and colors with a different shape. A gold wreath appeared on each side of the shield. This is symbolic of the Victory Lane traditional winner’s wreath presented to the first-place winner of the race since 1960.
The new 2023 logo was released a few days before the 2022 race in coordination with Gainbridge extending its sponsorship.
Indy 500 logo for the 2023 race
Gainbridge is the official sponsor for the 107th Indianapolis 500. According to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the new logo “is a forward-moving representation of the famed oval. The inside of the logo is a black shield, which embodies class and prestige, as well as the track surface, with the words ‘Indy 500‘ in the iconic slanted font. Surrounded by the familiar gold of the Wing & Wheel, the logo is the latest iteration of a series that began in 2019 with Gainbridge’s inaugural sponsorship.”
Gainbridge is a division of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC, and the official annuity and life insurance partner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. CEO Dan Towriss told Motorsport they are thrilled to extend their sponsorship of the race, saying, “This event is so iconic in the world of motorsport and a hallmark to Indianapolis.”
The digital investment platform also secured the naming rights to the Indiana Pacers’ arena. The comapny had a significant advertising presence at the Miami Grand Prix, too.
The history of the Indy 500
The Indy 500 is one of the most influential races in motorsports and also the oldest. Traditionally held over Memorial Day weekend, the top-level race takes place on the “Brickyard,” the nickname given to the racetrack because of its brick surface first utilized in 1909.
The century-old event is part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport. This includes the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Today’s professional-level Indy cars are open-cockpit, single-seat, open-wheel, high-performance automobiles with twin-turbocharged 2.2-liter V6 engines. All entrants tune their vehicles to generate between 550 and 750 hp to compete in the 200-lap, 500-mile race.
