Special Motorsports Event - On Chevrolet's 100th Anniversary, IMS Finishes Job Left Undone For 65 Years

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 3, 2011: Today, November 3, marks the official 100th anniversary of Chevrolet. To help celebrate this milestone and a relationship between IMS and the Chevrolet name that pre-dates Chevrolet's official start date, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has completed a project that has been left undone for 65 years.

Many people don't know, but the three Chevrolet brothers so appreciated the Indianapolis community that they all requested to be buried here. Gaston, Louis and Arthur are all buried next to each other at Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery just south of downtown Indianapolis.

Until just recently, only Gaston (the 1920 Indy 500 winner) and Louis had head stones at the location. Arthur, who competed in the 1911 Indianapolis 500, died without family or the ability to pay for proper graveside markings and was without a headstone since 1946.

In memory of Arthur, and to honor the Chevrolet name on this 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 and the Chevrolet brand, IMS, Chevrolet and Indianapolis businessman David Ring arranged to have a proper headstone placed on Arthur's grave site. Ring, who owns Harry W. Moore Funeral Care on Indianapolis' northeast side, is an Indianapolis 500 fan and is a student of the history of the event and the sport.

"When I heard that Arthur did not have a head stone I worked with IMS to arrange for one to be created and placed," said Ring. "Especially in this year that is so important to the Indianapolis 500 and Chevrolet, I was honored to be asked to spearhead this project and see to it that Arthur was properly recognized."

Between the three brothers, the Chevrolet name was represented eight times in the starting field of the Indianapolis 500 between 1911 and 1920.

Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery is located just south of downtown Indianapolis on the northeast corner of Pleasant Run Parkway Drive and Meridian Streets.