ICON: Mario Andretti
Featured at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum from May - December 2019, ICON: Mario Andretti celebrated the 50th anniversary of Mario Andretti’s Indianapolis 500 win and the legendary driver’s career across motorsports. Seen by over 105,000 visitors, it is regarded as one of the best exhibits in the IMS Museum’s ~50-year history.
AD / Designer: Cora Veltman
Curator: Jason Vansickle
Collections Manager: Roxie Dunbar
The Brand
For the brand colors, fonts, and details, I took key elements from the commemorative Indy 500 ticket from 1970.
The key portrait on which we based the majority of the collateral was one from a private collection that had never been displayed publicly from Mario’s rookie year, 1965.
THE BOOKLET
As a supplemental souvenir, we created a hefty booklet with all the information that was on display in the exhibit.
These booklets were free to customers of the museum, and have become a collectible amongst the racing community for their wealth of information and detail.
Showing Mario
One morning before we were open to the public, the Curator of Vehicles, Jason Vansickle, arranged for a private tour of Mario through the exhibit.
We spent over an hour just the three of us, and I was able to show my hero every design detail. The moment he walked through the marquee, he teared up. It is a memory that I will never forget.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
My passion and extensive knowledge of Andretti’s history is what won me this project.
At 21 years old, I was the youngest voice at the table. It was an honor to work with my hero directly to make this exhibit a reality.
Christian Bale and Matt Damon on the Ford v. Ferrari press tour stopped by the Speedway and we took them through the exhibit, answering questions and telling stories.
“If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.” - Mario Andretti