Indy puts one of its icons out to pasture

Bill York, who has worked in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway press room since 1958, is no longer with the Brickyard. IMS spokesman Ron Green confirmed that York and the Speedway parted ways, but would give no further details. “I was asked to come in Monday to talk about staffing, and they asked me to retire," York said. “So, I guess I’m retired. I guess maybe it had something to do with the economy."

York, who turns 76 next month, has worked in a variety of media relations capacities at the Speedway from serving food to reporters and photographers, gathering statistics on crashes and other on-track events for the local and national press corps to managing the press room on the fabled track’s infield. York also was instrumental in getting Stark & Wetzel to sponsor the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award.

York for years has been known as one of the Speedway’s best goodwill ambassadors.

York said he leaves the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with no regrets, but some sadness.

“I will miss the start of the Indianapolis 500," York said. “I have thought and still think that moment is the most exciting in sports anywhere in the world. Naturally, I’ll miss being at the track, the cars and being in the middle of all of that. But mostly, I’ll miss the people that make this great sport what it is."