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Both the town of Speedway and its namesake racing track are distancing themselves from the “Speedway Slammer” moniker federal officials have given to a portion of the northern Indiana correctional facility that will house Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that the Trump administration will partner with Indiana Gov. Mike Braun to secure about 1,000 beds in the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill for immigration enforcement.
The 3,200-bed facility is on the Grissom Air Force Reserve Base about 70 miles north of Indianapolis.
The partnership follows a similar agreement for a Florida facility that has been dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” because of its proximity to the Everglades. The nickname for the Indiana facility has drawn the ire of both IndyCar and town officials, with the parties saying they don’t want to be associated with the nickname.
As part of the plan’s public rollout, Homeland Security posted on social media a manipulated image of an ICE-branded IndyCar outside the correctional facility. The car seemingly bears a No. 5, which is the same number sported by Pato O’Ward, IndyCar’s only current Mexican driver.
Through a spokesperson, IndyCar said it has asked federal officials to cease the use of the imagery. But it did not respond to follow up questions about who it has specifically contacted or whether it might take legal action if the matter isn’t addressed.
“We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of yesterday’s announcement,” IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway said in a statement shared with IBJ. “Consistent with our approach to public policy and political issues, we are communicating our preference that our [intellectual property] not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.”
The Indianapolis Star first reported on the racing series’ effort to distance itself from the “Speedway Slammer” project.
In a statement, the town of Speedway said the plans from the Department of Homeland Security were “developed and released independently by the agency, without the town’s involvement or prior notice regarding the use of the name ‘Speedway.’”
The statement, attributed broadly to Speedway officials, said that the decision by the Trump administration is entirely outside its purview.
“Our primary focus remains the well-being of our residents, businesses and visitors,” the statement said. “The Speedway Police Department will continue to enforce the laws of the state of Indiana and town of Speedway ordinances and work with our local, state and federal partners as appropriate.”
The plan to use the Miami Correctional Facility for federal immigration detention purposes comes just three weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Camp Atterbury military facility will also be used by ICE for up to 1,000 detainees.
Timelines for when the two detention facilities will start being used by ICE have not been finalized.
Braun’s office declined to comment on the Speedway moniker.
According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Braun said Tuesday that he expected the federal government to pay for the cost of housing detainees.
“My goal is that anything we’re doing for them that we get compensated for it,” he said.
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This is just wrong. I hope both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Town of Speedway don’t let this happen without litigation. For both the IMS and the town, this is a “brand burner” and not appropriate.
I am so tired of this Administration’s little “cute” names for people and things. This is a sad time in our country.
+1
I agree with you in spirit (see below) but who are you going to “litigate” against? The president? A high cabinet official? Good luck with that
+1
Chuck…as sticky as suing a federal agency is, it can and does happen. In addition, dear Ms. Noem could be named along with the person or persons or entity responsible for creating the meme of the IndyCar. I am sure, at a minimum, the folks at the IMS has already issued a cease and desist letter which, it would be my hope, would be honored by DHS. If not, the harmed entity would have perfect standing under the Lanham Act’s provisions for copyright infringement and dilution.
This is clearly a brand buster for both the Speedway and the town. And it was DHS themselves, who drew the direct correlation between IndyCar and the name. Based on the response offered by IMS, they referred to the images in the meme as “their intellectual property”, so clearly they have a better understanding of what their intellectual property is and if it was infringed upon.
There isn’t anyway I would let this stand if I were a part of the IMS team. The strong association and positive image that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar and Penske Entertainment contine working hard to develop should not be smeared in such a manner as this continued childish name-calling that the Trump Administration seems to feel is cute. It is hardly that.
Everyone laughed at me when I inquired if the Alligators in Florida had given their approval for using the name. Who’s laughing now?
Grissom Gulag?
+1
John Grissom’s family would certainly OBJECT to his name being used by TRUMP;s MAGA MAGOT regime .
This administration is truly exhausting. Grow up.
Even Germany didn’t give cutesy names to their concentration camps. Braun, you are an utter fool.
While it’s par for the course, I actually don’t think this can be blamed on Braun. It looks like a federal / ICE thing. Tomorrow’s charade with Vance is a different story. IndyCar/IMS should sue.
Mike— who are they going to sue?
Noem and the Department of Homeland Security.
This is gross, juvenile and idiotic. Someone needs to tell the governor that expectations & contracts are two different things. Not that signed contracts mean anything to the idiot in charge…
How is this possibly on Braun?
How about Biden’s Barracks?
Thay plays as well as “Genocide Don”.
Or was that label supposed to be for the last guy?!? Trump has even more Israel friendly polices than Biden I don’t ever recall it being applied to good ol’ Donny boy.
It just never stops — it’s not a joke and as an Indiana resident I am disgusted.
1+
“My goal is that anything we’re doing for them that we get compensated for it,” he said..
Because the Taco has a confirmed track record of paying for things that he uses. Right. Mike Braun you have the biggest kool-aid mustache of them all.
Any bets that no one with Speedway or IMS was asked or consulted, and who cares about registered trade marks when you are “The Donald” who is nothing mare than a spoiled brat who feel offended when the truth or anything else is in opposition to his own imaginary world in which he and he alone is the almighty.
Sue the hell out of them.
1+
Braun is a disgusting fascist.