On race day in 1971, Indianapolis car dealer Eldon Palmer was driving a Dodge Challenger with some distinguished passengers in tow -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman, Indiana astronaut John Glenn and ABC Sports announcer Chris Schenkel.

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"He suddenly realized he was going too fast, he got on the brakes and it locked up," recalls IMS historian Donald Davidson.

The pace car was in the pits when it crashed into a stand filled with photographers, injuring several people. No one was killed.

Palmer later restored the car and sold it to collector Steven Cage in 2006.

"The reason Eldon was driving was that four dealers in town had to purchase cars, because Chrysler at the time was having trouble producing all of the cars, so the dealers went out and bought cars all over the country," said Cage, who was at the race when the car crashed.

The car now sits in Cage's private museum, RPM Collection American Muscle Car Museum, in Fishers.

Cage also owns the 1971 backup car, the 500 queen's car and the Dodge Charger that was given to 1971 500 winner Al Unser Sr.

"I've got the trifecta of the most famous pace car in the world," he said.

Cage doesn't discuss what he paid for the cars, but he said he doesn't plan to part with the official 1971 pace car because of a promise he made to Palmer.

"I told him I'd keep it in the family, and it's already in the will," Cage said.

Cage does periodically open his museum to visitors.

More Information: RPM Collection American Muscle Car Museum