TAG Heuer Honors Its Indy 500 History (and Future) With a Stunning New Formula 1 Limited Edition

In the world of motorsports, F1 racing dominates the global scene, and certainly, watchmaker TAG Heuer is now the brand most closely associated with the sport. However, even from a global perspective, the history and romance of that most American of open-wheel car races, the 115-year-old Indy 500, holds a special place in the hearts of many racing fans.

Running Sunday, May 24^th, at the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 110th time, the race offers a blur of palpable excitement, sights, and sounds, which, if you’ve been lucky enough to experience them in person, are simply unforgettable.

Fun Fact: The first Indy 500 was on May 30^th, 1911; however, the event was not held during the years of World War I (1917-1918) and World War II (1942-1945), which is why the total number of races (110) is lower than the total number of years since the first event (115).

Since 2004, TAG has been the official watch, timekeeper, and scorer for the race and has released 17 special commemorative timepiece editions to honor the event. These limited editions have run the gamut from inspired riffs on Carrera models to Autavias to Formula 1s, many of which have become extremely collectible.

However, one look at the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph x Indy 500 tells you that something special is going on this year.

Of course, for a motor race with this kind of history and gravitas, you might rightly expect a mix of heritage and modernity in a commemorative timepiece (just as the Indy 500 celebrates its history while putting cutting-edge automotive technology on full display each year). The new TAG timepiece follows a similar trajectory.

The watchmaker first introduced the Formula 1 model in 1986 and billed it as a very deliberate, bold, purpose-designed watch meant to evoke the power and velocity of auto racing, with a price point that made it easy to incorporate into “fan” culture. However, the introduction of TAG’s light-powered, battery-free Solargraph technology last year gives this Indy 500 commemorative watch its modern racing edge.
 

So, now, natural or artificial light delivers power to the new Formula 1 Solargraph x Indy 500’s Calibre TH50-00 movement, and it only takes about 1 minute of exposure to get enough power for a day’s charge with a 10-month life on a full tank. And, in line with our aforementioned expectations, this cutting-edge power solution comes in a particularly heritage-inspired package.

Overall, the Formula 1 Solargraph x Indy 500’s design cues lean into more original Formula 1 specs: The watch comes on a classic three-link steel bracelet with a secure folding clasp, and the case size of the steel watch comes down to 38mm (a welcome shrinking from the 43mm of last year’s quartz Formula 1 chronograph commemorative watch).
 

Throughout the history of the TAG Heuer x Indy 500 collaboration, most models have featured the race’s iconic “flying tire” logo and a brick pattern to reference the Speedway’s nickname, “The Brickyard.” Fun Fact: The track’s crushed-stone surface was replaced with bricks in 1909, which have since been replaced by modern asphalt.
 

For this watch, the brick pattern has been moved to the commemorative, numbered caseback. Meanwhile, the Speedway’s tire logo pops off a black opaline dial at 6 o’clock. Frankly, the logo has never looked better.

More vintage vibes arrive via a handsome light brown/chocolate/tobacco outer minutes gauge, with a modern TH-Polylight black bi-directional bezel picking up the same brown detail hue that frames the dial.
 

Finally, a clean date window at 3 o’clock, a bright red second hand, circular graphic indices (with TAG shield icons at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock), abundant white lume, and 100 meters of water resistance round out this impressive competitor.

Debuting today, limited to 1,110 pieces (reflecting the 110th running of the race at the Speedway), and delivered in resplendent Indy 500-inspired packaging, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph x Indy 500 lists for a fan-friendly price of $2,250. For more information, check out the TAG Heuer website.