▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 – 1 9 9 5 , ▁and ▁then ▁again ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁was ▁at ▁the ▁race ▁as ▁co - owner ▁of ▁New man / Ha as ▁Racing . ▁Joy ce ▁De W itt , ▁who ▁grew ▁up ▁in ▁the ▁Town ▁of ▁Speed way , ▁and ▁graduated ▁from ▁Speed way ▁Senior ▁High ▁School , ▁once ▁worked ▁at ▁the ▁Indian apolis ▁Motor ▁Speed way ▁ticket ▁office . ▁ ▁At ▁least ▁three ▁former ▁U . S . ▁Pres idents ▁( and ▁one ▁future ▁President ) ▁has ▁attended ▁the ▁Indian apolis ▁ 5 0 0 . ▁Ger ald ▁Ford ▁attended ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁race , ▁serving ▁also ▁as ▁the ▁grand ▁mar shal ▁of ▁the ▁ 5 0 0 ▁Festival ▁Par ade . ▁Both ▁George ▁H . ▁W . ▁Bush ▁and ▁Bill ▁Cl inton ▁attended ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁race , ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁Ind y ▁history ▁that ▁two ▁former ▁pres idents ▁were ▁at ▁the ▁same ▁race . ▁It ▁was ▁the ▁elder ▁Bush ' s ▁second ▁visit ▁to ▁the ▁Speed way ; ▁he ▁previously ▁pres ided ▁over ▁the ▁opening ▁cer emon ies ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁Pan ▁American ▁Games , ▁which ▁was ▁held ▁at ▁the ▁track . ▁Future ▁President ▁Donald ▁Trump ▁attended ▁the ▁race ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁Trump ▁was ▁selected ▁to ▁drive ▁the ▁pace ▁car ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁race , ▁but ▁with d rew ▁the ▁duty ▁after ▁drawing ▁controvers y