ST.ELMO'S FIRE

AN INDIANAPOLIS RESTAURANT WITH FACEMELTING SHRIMP HAS BEEN A DE FACTO RACING CLUBHOUSE FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

- A.J. BAIME

THIS PAST JANUARY, a group of Indy 500 winners—who are also current IndyCar drivers—gathered for a dinner at the famed St. Elmo Steak House in downtown Indianapolis. Defending champ Josef Newgarden was there, as were Alexander Rossi, Scott Dixon, and Marcus Ericsson. IndyCar president Jay Frye was present along with Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles. The group met to talk through exciting new developments regarding the 2024 season, and what better place to do it? St. Elmo has a specialty that makes it unlike any other hot spot on earth.

The place serves a world-famous shrimp cocktail. But that’s not what this is about. St. Elmo’s real specialty is the fact that for more than 100 years, it has been the de facto clubhouse for Indy drivers, executives from the IndyCar series and its teams, and the powerhouses of the Brickyard organization itself—anybody who’s anybody on the American racing scene.

“It’s the place to see the drivers, team owners, IMS leadership, celebrities, and fans in town for a big event,” says Craig Huse, who owns the restaurant with his father and brother.

“If walls could speak . . .” adds Tim Cindric, president of Team Penske and father of current NASCAR driver Austin Cindric. He’s not kidding: The walls are crowded with portraits of racing heroes who’ve been regulars, from A.J. and Mario to old-timers from back before color photography.