By alley - Jun 14, 2015, 1:21 PM ET

At the Brickyard Invitational: Remembering greatness

Given the venue of the Brickyard Invitational, paying homage to motorsports greatness is a natural. According to Tony Parella, CEO of the organizing body, the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), respecting the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is flat out essential.

“Everyone in motorsport knows the history here is second to none,” Parella says. “What’s important is to understand how deep it runs in the culture – not just the track, but also Indianapolis. It is embedded deep in the Hoosier capital city. You come here and you feel it. You honor that – or you don’t belong here.”

In 2014 one of the many ways Parella and his SVRA team demonstrated their understanding of the culture of the fan community that believes the Speedway is sacred ground was to announce trophies honoring special racecars – and special people. Two awards the SVRA established last year are the A.J. Watson Trophy and the Sir Jack Brabham Trophy, for best examples of a roadster and a Brabham racer, respectively.

“The cars from decades back have personalities,” says Auto Racing Hall of Fame Historian Donald Davidson, shown at left with 2014's Watson Trophy winner – Bill Adkin's 1955 Kurtis-Kraft Offenhauser roadster. “They are unique; they have stories to tell and fans will tell you they speak to them. Tony selected two great men to recognize. Both men were major influences in the course of history at the Indianapolis 500.”

No other chief mechanic in the history of the “500” is more associated with the famous “roadster” race cars of the 1950s than A.J. Watson. At IMS the name Watson and the word, “roadster” are eternally linked. Watson roadsters won six Indianapolis 500s. Ironically Sir Jack Brabham, knighted by the Queen of England for his accomplishments, is remembered at IMS as the man who introduced the great track to the rear-engine car that spelled the beginning of the end for the roadsters.

For Parella, with the passing of Watson and Brabham within a week of each other in 2014 called for tributes not just appropriate, but essential. Parella asked Davidson, who serves as the Speedway’s historian, to organize the judging process to award the trophies. It was a natural fit.

No one knows the history of the storied track better than the man many fans call, “The Donald.” To that point, he is hugely popular with people across the country who love his radio show (available both locally on the air and on the Web through podcast) “The Talk of Gasoline Alley.”

This year Davidson recruited former chief mechanics with storied careers for his team of judges. These are men he feels know cars better than anyone. Not surprisingly, Davidson believes authenticity is core to recognizing a car.

“I would far rather have an original car than one that is heavily restored,” says Davidson. “Tribute cars and replicas are fine, but I don’t see them as legitimate contenders. Most of the cars we will consider have the frame and some other original stuff. That’s why I am choosing a team of chief mechanics as judges to apply their assessment. They know what the technology was at the time and what is an accurate restoration.”

Donald’s all-star team included:

• Mike Devin, who spent 40 years at the Speedway, was USAC vice president and technical director and has worked on everything from Indy cars to Can-Am sports cars to dragsters.

• Peter Parrot (near right, with Devin), who launched his career with Jack Brabham and was a major player in Team Penske in the days of Rick Mears.

• Tim Coffeen, best known for his time at Newman/Haas Racing where he was crew chief for Michael Andretti.

• Steve Stapp, a long-time sprint car owner builder who provided cars for A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Johnny Rutherford.

• George Hueing was the winning Indianapolis 500 chief mechanic with Gordon Johncock.

• Dave Laycock is best known for his work with Lloyd Ruby including building the 1969 Mongoose racer that suffered a torn fuel tank in the pits to thwart the hard-luck driver of a likely victory.

• Lynn Reid worked extensively with Phil Casey on Gerhardt racer for driver Gary Bettenhausen.

The team selected outstanding vehicles but in the end called the Watson Trophy a tie between two beautiful entries. The cars and their owners are listed below:

AJ Watson Award-Best Indy Roadster (Co-Winners)

• 1962 Watson/Elder/Crawford #96

Driver/Owner - Deane Tank

• 1963 Watson Roadster #9

Driver-Roy Caruthers

Sir Jack Brabham Award - Best Brabham Racecar

• 1971 Brabham BT35 #2

Owner/Driver - Ron Horning

Best Prewar Racecar

• 1934 MG J2 #185

Owner/Driver - Lou Marchant

Best in Show Racecar

• 1966 Yenko Stinger

Driver - Steve Schardt

Owner - Jim Schardt

Click on the thumbnails below for images of the winners

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Here’s a quick look at what's on tap for Sunday at the Brickyard Invitational:

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the SVRA are producing what is already one of American vintage racing’s premier events. Today, June 14, is the closing day of the event. The big attraction of the day is an “Unser Family Reunion.” This commemorative event kicked off with a fan pit walk starting at 11:50 for autographs and photos. At 12:35 all five of the Unser family Indianapolis 500 veterans will take to the track driving “500” race cars significant to their careers. It will be the first and perhaps the only time all five: Al Unser Sr., Bobby Unser, Al Unser Jr., Robby and Johnny will be on the Brickyard together.

The racing began at 8:25 a.m. with a 60-minute vintage/classic endure for SVRA Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 6a and 8. A second endure for Historic GT and GTP cars will run 90 minutes and start at 9:55 a.m. The rest of the day will present oval exhibitions all SVRA run groups. Of particular interest to fans are Indianapolis 500 “roadsters” and pre-war cars.