1911 Marmon Wasp

The Wasp is among America’s most significant race cars. Engineer, airplane pilot and race car driver, Ray Harroun, piloted the custom-built, streamlined, single-seat Marmon to victory at the inaugural Indianapolis 500-mile race. In the 100 plus years of racing at the Indianapolis oval track since, the annual Memorial Day competition has become one of the most important races in the world drawing some of the largest single-day spectator counts for a sporting event. The Wasp predates the race by a handful of years as it was campaigned by Nordyke & Marmon Co. to promote their passenger autos at many pioneering races around the country. It is believed to be among the first cars to utilize a rearview mirror which allowed Harroun a slight advantage in that he did not have a passenger “riding mechanic” watching traffic behind him.

The Wasp has never been fully restored and is a fixture of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum where it has spent most of its life. NHVR No. 11 HAER No. IN-115