WORDS
Eleanor Pryor
For its latest birthday celebrations, marking its 160th year, Tag Heuer has once again turned its attentions to the world of motorsport, this time creating a special watch in tribute to its long-standing partnership with the IndyCar series and the Indianapolis 500.
The famous race is held at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway and, like the watchmaker, has a long and storied past. Known by fans as ‘The Brickyard’, the racetrack earned its nickname because of its surface made of gravel and tar, unfortunately causing a number of accidents, which was subsequently repaved. The track was later covered over with asphalt, except for a one-yard strip of bricks at the finish line that still remains. To this day, drivers have kept the tradition of kneeling and ‘kissing the bricks’ as they celebrate victory.
This history is reflected on the dial of the Tag Heuer Formula 1 43mm Indy 500 2020 Special Edition, which prominently features a brick motif. It is joined by a number of other nods to its partnership, with Indy 500 engraved in red on the bezel, while the logo is displayed on the subdial at 6 o’clock.
Designed to withstand the toughest of races, the quartz chronograph is highly shock resistant and comes on a rugged black rubber strap that can be easily and comfortably worn over a racing suit.
£1,695; tagheuer.com