Mari Hulman George, the chairman of the board emeritus of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, died early Saturday morning at the age of 83, the track announced in a statement.
She served as IMS chairman from 1988 to 2016, giving the command for drivers to start their engines for both the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 from the late 1990s until 2015.
Heartbroken at the passing of Mari Hulman George, who touched the lives of millions through her passion for auto racing, stewardship of IMS and decades of compassionate philanthropy.
Rest in peace, Mari. We love you and will miss you.https://t.co/II0IvRk03D
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) November 3, 2018
Her father, Anton “Tony” Hulman Jr., purchased Indianapolis Motor Speedway in November 1945.
Hulman George was the co-owner of a racing team before she turned 21, and entered cars in the Indy 500 in 1962 and 1963 that were driven by her husband, Elmer George.