Franchitti unveils 2013 Indy 500 ticket

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Dario Franchitti unveiled the artwork for the 2013 Indianapolis 500 ticket during an event Monday afternoon.

Each Indy 500 reserved seat ticket will show Franchitti wearing the winner's wreath after his victory in 2012. Officials say the tickets traditionally feature the previous year's champion.

Franchitti's 2012 win made him one of only ten drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 at least three times.

"Winning my third Indianapolis 500 was very special and coming back to Indianapolis to unveil this year's ticket is always fun," Franchitti said.

The sample ticket on display at the event also featured the seat location of longtime fan George "Butch" Welsch, who has been attending the Indianapolis 500 for more than 60 years.

Welsch won a contest that decided which Indy 500 seat location would appear on the ticket. Contestants were encouraged to submit a video about why their seat should be featured. Welsch is the only person to sit in Paddock Penthouse, Box 12, Row A, Seat 1 for the Indianapolis 500 since that seat was first available in 1961.

This year's Indy 500 will mark the 53rd year that Welsch has watched the race from that seat.

"When I saw information about this contest, I thought I could enter and that there weren't going to probably be many people who would have a better story to tell than I did," Welsch said. "This is a really neat thing for the Speedway to do, and not just because it's mine, but because there's so many family traditions at the Speedway."

Race day tickets start at $30. The race takes place Sunday May 26. You can purchase tickets by clicking here or by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area.