Postage stamp to commemorate 1911 Indy 500

The Marmon “Wasp” vintage race car will be zipping through the mail beginning in May.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway unveiled the image of a stamp — featuring the car that won the inaugural race in 1911 — that will commemorate the race’s 100th anniversary next year.

The Indianapolis 500 is one of 25 subjects highlighted in the United States Postal Service’s 2011 Commemorative Stamp Program, according to a news release from the speedway.

The stamp will be a “Forever stamp,” always equal in value to the current First Class Mail 1-ounce letter, regardless of price changes in the future.

Illustrator John Mattos created the stylized, art deco image of Ray Harroun driving the yellow No. 32 “Wasp.”

Text along the bottom of the stamp reads “Indianapolis 500,” with small type along the bottom of the stamp opposite the year 2011 that reads “100 years of racing” in all caps.

This is the second time the Marmon “Wasp” has been featured on a U.S. postage stamp, according to the release. The car also was highlighted as a 17.5-cent stamp in the Transportation series in 1987.

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