Brian Boettcher developed his motorsports interest in the Milwaukee Mile’s south bleachers, and has a lifelong fascination with going fast, on two wheels or four. The History of the Indianapolis 500 series reflects his love of history and writing. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Brian graduated with a degree in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His career has taken him to living in New Mexico, Germany, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
Where is the fifth volume? Will it be published soon?
It's still being researched. The "STP" era is fascinating and very complex, with much that does not meet the eye in the background. It is a culmination of several pieces that came together in the late sixties. The legend of Andy Granatelli looms over the entire era, particularly starting in 1966 with a fleet of competitive Novis and the sponsorship of Team Lotus after Ford dropped its support. Behind all this are his myriad business affairs, especially his involvement with Studebaker, which was still a player in the auto industry, Paxton superchargers and his eventual assumption and building of the company's STP division into a major national brand.
What is the allure of the Indianapolis 500?
Everyone has their own reasons for their interest in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. When I was a kid, it began hearing Sid Collins and his crew make the race come alive, with the great engine sounds and the electricity of the biggest single crowd at any sporting event. For me, today, it’s the history and the stories the event spins over the years. It’s nearly impossible to pick any one year and come up without a compelling story or two. People are drawn to the drama: Ralph Hepburn and the Novi, Bill Vukovich going for three in a row, or those space age turbines. And the rich cast of characters, some, like Foyt, Parnelli and Andretti, are still household names.
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