Indy 500: Back Home Again in Indiana

Today we will be “Back Home Again in Indiana” once more for the 103rd running of the race Indy 500, but once more without the late Jim Nabors.

One of the most cherished pre-race traditions for IndyCar‘s most prestigious race, the Indianapolis 500, that has existed throughout the majority of the history of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is the singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana”.

This tradition began in 1946 ahead of the 30th running of the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in Speedway, Indiana, and the tradition of it being sung by one particular man began 26 years later ahead of the 56th running of the event in 1972.

Before this race, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman approached Jim Nabors, the man who starred as Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show and then the show’s spin-off, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., about signing ahead of the event.

Nabors passed away on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at the age of 87. But while this will be the second Indy 500 since his passing and the fifth Indy 500 since he last made an appearance at the event, let’s take a look back at how this tradition began.

Back in 2007, here is what Nabors had to say about his meeting with Hulman ahead of the 1972 Indy 500, according to IndyStar.

"“He said, ‘Welcome, want to sing?’ ‘Sure,’ I said.”"

In 2014, here is what he had to say about what went down after he and Hulman talked 42 years prior, according to USA Today.

"“When I got over there to meet the conductor of the Purdue band, I said, ‘What key do you do this in?’ He looked at me and said, ‘We only got one key.’ I said, ‘No, Star-Spangled Banner’s got two keys.’ He said, ‘You’re not singing that.’ I said, ‘What the hell am I singing?’“He said, ‘You’re singing the traditional song that opens the race, Back Home Again in Indiana. And I looked at him kind of funny and said, ‘I’m from Alabama. You still want me to do it?’ He said, ‘Well, do you know it?’ I said, ‘I know the melody, but I don’t know the words.’ This is a true story. I’m writing on my hand the words in this five minutes.”"