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An original 7x5" vintage photo (NOT a modern reprint) from the Marty Himes estate.
Provenance: This photograph comes directly from the Marty Himes Racing Museum Collection, assembled over decades by Marty Himes - racer, restorer, and lifelong archivist of American racing. Every piece he preserved tells part of the story of motorsport’s rise from dirt tracks to the spectacle of the Indy 500. We acquired the majority of his photo collection after his passing. Many of his photos are extremely rare or even one of a kind.
Photo Overview
A thrilling side-by-side racing moment captured at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1970 - race day of the Indianapolis 500. Two open-wheel Indy cars battle it out on the famous 2.5-mile oval: car #7 driven by A.J. Foyt and car #55 driven by Lloyd Ruby, both pushing hard on the smooth asphalt of the Brickyard. The photo was taken by noted Indy photographer Arnie deBrier and comes directly from the Marty Himes Racing Museum Collection.
A.J. Foyt is one of the most celebrated figures in American motorsport history, a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977) and all-around racing legend. Lloyd Ruby was a beloved and perennially competitive Indy car veteran who came heartbreakingly close to winning the 500 multiple times despite mechanical misfortune.
Historical Notes
The 1970 Indianapolis 500 was won by Al Unser Sr. in the Johnny Lightning Special - his first of four Indy wins. Foyt finished a disappointing 8th that year after leading laps, while Lloyd Ruby, plagued once again by mechanical trouble, failed to finish, continuing a heartbreaking streak of near-misses at Indianapolis. Ruby had led the 500 multiple times over his career but never captured the victory that his talent deserved. Foyt, undeterred, would go on to win his fourth and final Indy 500 in 1977. Ruby retired from Indy car racing in the mid-1970s. This photograph, taken on race day itself, captures two of the era\'s most iconic competitors pushing wheel-to-wheel in one of the sport\'s greatest events.
Print analysis
This is a Type 1 original photograph taken on race day May 30, 1970, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The photo was shot by photographer Arnie deBrier, a well-known Indy 500 photographer, and bears his credit stamp on the reverse. The image shows characteristics consistent with a gelatin silver print developed close to the date of the event. The back stamping with the specific race date strongly supports this being a same-era original print. Classified as a Type 1 Original Photo.
Condition
Please see scans of the image we have provided for the most accurate and complete state of the photo. Many of the photos in this collection are very old and have age related wear, chips, creases, curling, etc. Others are remarkably well maintained.
