The old wooden garages actually burned down sometime in the late 1930s/early 1940s.

They were rebuilt, but then torn down and replaced with the modern steel garages for 1986.

Those Maurice Phillipe-designed dihedral Parnellis were originally a disaster, until crew chief ace George Bignotti got a hold of them and the team gradually worked most of the problems out.

There were several garage fires. One in the early 30s...but the more famous garages, pictured here, were made for the reopening, and burned down in 1985.

And I am well aware of Bignotti, winningest Crew Chief/ Mechanic lol.

Glad someone else on here knows their stuff hehe

Yes, glad someone else knows who Bignotti is too.

Had no idea the wooden garages actually burned down twice. I do know that the replacement garages debuted for the 1986 Indy 500. I'm pretty sure it was '86.

The 1972 Parnell, when the Champcars really started to get scary. With the crazy amount of boost they were dialing in the engines, the brand new rear wings that shot the lap speeds skyward, and all that methanol they were carrying.

Then came 1973....

Yeah, wilbur shaws Alfa was almost caught in the fire. The garages then were in...turn 1 or 2 back then. Then they were moved to their current locations with the wooden garages...then they burned...and the modern ones stand where they were lol. And 1973 was the start of the big boost years, shame indy that year was so awful...

*Parnelli