Every week Bluebaggers across the globe proudly display their true colours, but it’s fair to say the iconic Carlton monogram will never travel faster than this weekend at the biggest motor race of them all – the Indianapolis 500.

Passionate Carlton supporter Brett Murray, from the Gold Coast, is embarking on the dream of a lifetime, running a car in the 100th running of the iconic race this weekend.

And like most things Murray does, navy blue will be right alongside him.

“The Blues will be with us all the way,” Murray told Carlton Media, as he prepares for the centenary edition of the race on Monday morning, Australian time.

“Hopefully we can fly the Carlton flag in the 500 at 400 kilometres an hour, I don’t think the Blues have ever gone that quick!” he exclaimed.

But the man known as ‘Crusher’ will do more than that – his 2016 membership sticker will actually ride on his Indy Car for the big race.

A special supporter’s package sent from the Club arrived just in time for preparations for the race – with the sticker now riding proudly on the Pirtek Team Murray’s Chevy.

And its timing has worked wonders.

“We actually had a few problems in the first session at the start of the month, but ever since putting the sticker on, it’s been brand new ever since!” Murray said.

“I’ve got the Blues tattoo on the arm, and the Blues jumpers and the scarf all on the pit box, we’ll be proudly showing off the Carlton colours all weekend!”

The only friction in the team is between the owner and the driver.

While Murray is a mad Blue, his young Australian driver Matthew Brabham, the grandson of the legendary Sir Jack Brabham, is a Gold Coast Suns fan.

Still, they put footy hostilities aside for a very rare kick-to-kick with the Club’s official ZTE sponsored Sherrin match ball in the famed Indianapolis pit lane.

“It’s good to kick a ball over here rather than throw it like they all normally do,” Murray joked.


“I must say it was a little surreal to be having a kick of the Sherrin in pitlane at the Brickyard – we entertained a few people in the stands who had no idea what the bloody hell we were doing!”

Brabham will start 27th in the centenary edition of the event, which has already sold out – with a staggering crowd of 350,000 expected on race day alone. His qualifying speed to make the 33-car field was an equally staggering, 363.26 kilometres an hour average.

Just making the race is some achievement – now the biggest day of their life awaits.

As Crusher enthused: “I’ll be watching the Blues hopefully beat the Cats in the middle of the night, and then we’ll go to work to try and win the biggest race of them all.”