Bill York, who worked at and managed the Indianapolis Motor Speedway media center for more than 50 years, died on August 20 near Nashville, Tennessee. He was 91 years old.

York, a proud Peruvian native of Indiana, mentored and befriended journalists from around the world, as well as drivers and race team officials, in his roles at the Racing Capital of the World’s Media Center from the late 1950s to the mid-2010s. His contributions spanned every event at IMS during that time, including the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, United States Grand Prix Formula One race, Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP race and more.

The dazzling, friendly York ran the IMS Media Center with a fair, firm hand, combining a pragmatic approach with a hearty laugh, earning him the admiration and respect of all journalists and officials.

York and longtime IMS media representative Bob Laycock created handwritten Indianapolis 500 qualifying cards – complete with the driver’s name and primary sponsor’s name, as well as time and speed for each of the four laps of each qualifying driver, written with color-coded markers to match the sponsor’s colors – that became iconic decorations on the walls of the old media center next to Gasoline Alley and the current media center next to the Pagoda. Drivers often sought out their qualifying cards as souvenirs, especially from their rookie year at the ‘500.’

Additionally, as a sales representative for the Indianapolis-based meat company in the 1950s, he was instrumental in increasing the recognition of the Stark & ​​Wetzel Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Award.

York began working as a statistician in the IMS press room in 1958, eventually taking on management duties in the media center until 2008. He then served as the media center liaison until the mid-2010s. Working at IMS was a part-time job for York—he was a highly successful salesman during his career—but a role he filled full-time with passion and skill.

He has received several awards in auto racing for his work, including the 2010 Bob Russo Founders Award for lifetime achievement in the sport, the 2011 Jim Chapman Award for outstanding achievement in motorsports public relations, and the STP Unsung Hero Award.

In addition to being a well-known figure in the racing media around the world, York enjoyed the respect and admiration of National Football League journalists and professional basketball players due to his many years of work in the media rooms of the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers.

York became the Pacers’ first head of statistics in 1967, a role he held for five decades and more than 2,000 games as the franchise moved from the American Basketball Association to the National Basketball Association. The Pacers’ media room at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is named in his honor.

In addition, he headed the statistics team and worked in the media room from the Colts’ arrival in Indianapolis in 1984 through the 2010s, serving both their original home, the RCA Dome, and their current home, Lucas Oil Stadium.

York’s wife Jay and son Rick predeceased him. He leaves behind a daughter, Marla.