Almost 400 friends, family and race fans gathered in May to pay tribute to one of the Indy 500’s greatest supporters – Andy Granatelli. Andy Granatelli was in the spotlight as ground was broken for a museum in Auburn, Ind., bearing his name, the Andy Granatelli Hall of Fame Museum. “I’m thrilled to have a museum named after me while I’m still alive,” said Granatelli, who helped to make STP a household name. He’s well-known in racing circles as a racing innovator, a marketing legend and a man passionate about the Memorial Day classic. Many of his drivers came to Auburn for his Mr. Indy 500 Gala in May, including one known only as The King … Richard Petty. The relationship between Granatelli and Petty began when the STP magnate decided he wanted to sponsor a NASCAR driver. Petty was an obvious choice for him, Granatelli said. One of Indy’s racing family dynasties, the Unsers, also joined Granatelli for his big night. Al Unser Sr. and Al Unser Jr. were a part of the evening as was Bobby Unser Jr. who drove Granatelli’s Novi, an innovative racer that eventually was outlawed by the Indy 500’s governing body. The three Unsers have nine Indy wins altogether. The gala also featured the Indy 500’s oldest living driver – Danny Kladis, 90, who drove for Granatelli; and other Indy winners, Gordon Johncock, who won for Granatelli in 1973; Parnelli Jones who won in 1963; and Jim Rathmann, the oldest living winner of the Indy 500. The Granatelli museum was an idea formulated when Dean Kruse visited Granatelli’s home and saw all his racing memorabilia in boxes. He knew instantly the items needed to be in a museum. But Granatelli demanded the facility be the closest one to the highway. It will be – right next to Interstate 69, where 39,000 cars drive by every day. “He’s done so much for racing,” Kruse said. “The racing fraternity will drive right here and see Andy’s name in big lights, as long as the bulbs don’t burn out.” The 28,000-square-foot museum is expected to open in the fall 2008. In addition to housing the Hall of Fame trophies Granatelli has received, others also will begin to be inducted into the facility’s own Hall of Fame. The museum annually will recognize those who carry on Andy Granatelli’s innovative spirit.