More than 150 drivers, fans, celebrities and others share their personal stories and remembrances of the world’s most famous auto race. Twenty different race winners representing more than 40 victories are among those sharing memories, including the greatest names in the sport: Foyt, Unser, Andretti, Rutherford, Cheever, Mears, Sullivan, Rahal, Montoya, Castroneves and Kanaan. Others include Gurney, Guthrie, Goodyear, Patrick, Power, Stewart, St. James and many more.The book is as much about dreams as it is memories, from A.J. Foyt listening to the 500 in his daddy’s garage as young boy, to Bev Patrick bursting into tears as her daughter, Danica, becomes the first woman to lead the 500. There is laughter and tears, triumph and tragedy, ranging from Evi Gurney hiding under a stack of sweaty driver uniforms in the back of a car so she can sneak into Gasoline Alley, to Indy’s darkest days in 1964 and 1973. The memories are full of surprises and unbridled honesty. “I felt like I was at the point of an arrow that was being hurled forward by a hurricane,” recalled Eddie Cheever. “It was so violent, to control it for 500 miles and finish a race, I thought would be a miracle.” Fans and family have always been an integral part of making the event “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and both are well represented in Indy 500 Memories. Whether the stories are about family traditions or secretly spreading a loved one’s ashes on the Speedway’s grounds, they are often as personal and interesting as those of the drivers.From the first memory by Mario Andretti, to the last one of Ryan Hunter-Reay, Indy 500 Memories is sure to invoke surprise, laughter, tears and awe and is a must read for any racing fan. Thanks for the Memories Here, and just in time for the 100th running of the 500-mile race on Memorial Day, is a wide, deep, funny, sad, trivial, triumphantand altogether absorbing collection of personal memories of the Indy 500. As with many things in life, rhyme and reason donot always follow any sort of strict rules at the Speedway and that's reallywhat this book is all about ... the focal point for sharp and lasting memoriesthat those 1,000 acres just northwest of downtown have become over a century'sworth of years. It all seems to come down to one thing, for everyonewho has ever been just about any part of the 500, it's personal...very personal. On an early page in this book there's a quote fromthe late Tony Hulman: "After I say, 'Gentlemen, Start Your Engines,' I feellike I've just pulled the pin on a hand grenade." Messers Garner and Spiegel have certainly pulled a pin on the emotional sideof this iconic event and here that explosion lasts for 200+ pages. - Doug Stokes, LA Car Indy 500: Take a Trip Down Memory Lane Author and Autoweek pal Art Garner (with Marc Spiegel) is releasing his new book, "Indy 500 Memories, AnOral History of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" just in time for the 100thrunning. "Memories" is just what the name implies: drivers, crew members, car owners, officials, media, celebrities, fans andothers--some 150 people in all--(share) their personal Indy 500 recollections. The list ofcontributors is impressive, to say the least. You'll hear from the likes ofEddie Cheever, A.J. Foyt and the Unsers, Evi Gurney, Holly Wheldon, ParnelliJones and, of course, Linda Vaughn. Some recount their first 500, some their scariest moment and somethe most fun they ever had at the Speedway. None other than Mario Andretti wrote the preface. Ifyou like the 500, racing in general, or just want to read some thoughtful wordsfrom some terrific people, you'll want Garner's latest book. - Wes Raynel, Autoweek 'Indy 500 Memories': History as told by the greats On the eve of the100th running of the Indianapolis 500, Art Garner and Marc B. Spiegel present the personal stories and remembrances of more than 150 drivers, fans and celebrities in "Indy 500 Memories: An Oral History of 'The GreatestSpectacle in Racing.'" Those sharing stories include 20 different race winners representing more than 40 victories. Thegreatest names in the sport - Foyt, Unser, Andretti, Gurney, Rutherford, Rahal, Montoya, Kanaan and more - are among those sharing memories, including this one from 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan: "...I thought oh sh*t, I just get the lead at the Indianapolis 500 and now I'm going to crash..." And this recollection from four-time 500 winner A.J. Foyt: "...when I was a little kid working in my daddy's shop, I would listen to the race on the radio and think, I would like to race up there some day." - Racer Magazine Art Garner is the author of Black Noon, The Year They Stopped the Indy 500, winner of the Motor Press Guild's Book of the Year award and a finalist for the PEN/ESPN award for literary sports writing. He spent more than 35 years in automotive public relations. He lives in Olympia, Wash., with his wife, E.J. Follow him on Twitter: @artpgarner Marc B. Spiegel earned the Ji