“Rest in peace my friend”, “Sad News”: IndyCar Racers pay tribute to veteran Chris Bucher who passed away from cancer and also the Legendary Moments Recorder with Scott Dixon with his six championship rings.
The IndyCar paddock, a tight-knit family of speed demons and storytellers, is reeling from a profound loss. Chris Bucher, the veteran photographer whose lens captured the raw thrill and quiet triumphs of open-wheel racing for three decades, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2025, at the age of 57. After a valiant battle with cancer that included aggressive brain metastases, Bucher succumbed surrounded by loved ones in his hometown of Indianapolis. His death, announced via a heartfelt Instagram post from his account, has unleashed a torrent of grief and gratitude from the racing world, with drivers and teams alike sharing memories of a man whose camera didn’t just document history—it immortalized the human spirit behind the helmets.
Bucher was no ordinary shutterbug; he was the quiet architect of IndyCar’s visual legacy. Born and raised in the heart of racing country, he turned his passion for photography into a full-time pursuit in 1995, founding Chris Bucher Photographs that same year. Over the ensuing years, his work graced the pages of major motorsport publications, from the high-octane spreads in Autosport to the intimate portraits in IndyCar’s official media. But it was his deep ties to the series’ elite teams that cemented his status as a paddock icon. Bucher authored two influential books—”Lighting Photo Workshop” and “Black and White Digital Photography”—sharing his expertise with aspiring artists, yet his true canvas was the asphalt ovals and street circuits where IndyCar’s stars duked it out for glory.
Nowhere was Bucher’s artistry more evident than in his longstanding collaboration with Chip Ganassi Racing, the powerhouse team that has dominated the NTT IndyCar Series for years. In recent seasons, Bucher became an embedded fixture within the Ganassi garage, his camera weaving through the chaos of pit stops and podium celebrations. He chronicled the highs of Alex Palou’s 2025 championship charge and the relentless pursuit of Jimmie Johnson during his comeback bids. But perhaps his most enduring contribution to Ganassi lore—and to IndyCar immortality—was the iconic photograph of Scott Dixon, the six-time series champion, proudly displaying his glittering collection of rings. Snapped in a moment of unfiltered joy, the image shows Dixon’s hand splayed wide, each ring a testament to victories spanning from 2003 to 2023. The photo, with its stark lighting and emotional depth, has become a symbol of Dixon’s unparalleled longevity, often hailed as one of the most evocative portraits in American motorsport history. “Chris had this gift for freezing time in a way that made you feel the weight of the moment,” a Ganassi spokesperson reflected in the wake of the news. Bucher’s eye for detail turned a simple gesture into legend, reminding fans that behind every trophy is a story etched in sweat and strategy.
As word of Bucher’s passing spread like wildfire through social media on September 24, the tributes poured in, each one a snapshot of the man who had captured so many of their own. Conor Daly, the affable driver and former neighbor of Bucher’s, was among the first to break the silence on X, posting a simple yet shattering message: “RIP my friend. Former neighbor of mine. Helped me around my house with a few things. Took some of my favorite photographs on track… you will be missed! ❤️” Daly’s words painted Bucher not just as a professional, but as a genuine friend who lent a hand off the track as readily as he did behind the lens.
Graham Rahal, scion of racing royalty and a fierce competitor with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, echoed the sentiment with raw emotion. “Awful news. Just terrible. There was no bad days with Chris, such a wonderful man. Brings me to tears to read this. Thanks for the great times, and great memories CB. ❤️” Rahal’s tribute captured the essence of Bucher’s infectious positivity—a man who could turn the grueling grind of a 500-mile race into something lighthearted and memorable.
Simon Pagenaud, the 2016 IndyCar champion and 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner, shared a particularly poignant recollection. Having collaborated closely with Bucher during his Team Penske days, Pagenaud wrote, “This is hard to read! I have so many memories with Chris, the fondest is winning Indianapolis 500 together!! The most gentle soul i have ever met! I ll miss his smile and friendship. What an amazing human being! ❤️” The duo’s shared triumph at Indy in 2019, with Bucher’s images beaming the victory across the globe, underscored a bond forged in the roar of engines and the hush of confetti showers.
Even from across the paddock divide, voices from other corners of the series joined the chorus. Hunter McElrea, now racing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship but a familiar face in IndyCar’s lower formulas, lamented, “Rip to one of the nicest guys in the paddock ❤️💔 thank you for the amazing photos and always having a smile. 🫶” And from within Ganassi’s own ranks, 2025 champion Alex Palou offered a heartfelt emoji-laden post: “❤️❤️❤️ Such an excellent person.” Palou, whose title defense Bucher had helped document, knew better than most the quiet magic the photographer brought to the team’s story.
Chip Ganassi Racing issued an official statement that resonated deeply: “Rest in peace, @BucherPhoto. Our thoughts are with Chris’ family, friends and @CoForceCrew colleagues at this difficult time. Chris was a shining light in the paddock, wonderfully kind, and an incredibly talented photographer. We will miss him.” The mention of CoForce Crew, Bucher’s photography collective, highlighted his collaborative spirit, always elevating those around him.
Marshall Pruett, the veteran journalist and host of the Marshall Pruett Podcast, added his voice to the outpouring, recalling a recent reunion: “It was so awesome to have Chris Bucher back at the track last year to shoot for his dear friend Simon Pagenaud again. Hate losing him and I know his many friends in the paddock feel the same.” Pruett’s words evoked the joy of Bucher’s brief return to the circuit in 2024, after health setbacks had sidelined him, a testament to his unyielding love for the sport.
In the days since his passing, fans have flooded social media with Bucher’s images—Dixon’s rings glinting under stadium lights, Pagenaud’s euphoric Indy embrace, Rahal’s determined gaze mid-lap. These aren’t just pictures; they’re portals to the soul of IndyCar, preserved by a man who saw beauty in the blur of 230-mph chaos. As the series hurtles toward its finale at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend, drivers will carry Bucher’s spirit in their rearviews, a reminder that the greatest races are won not just on the track, but in the hearts captured forever. Rest in peace, Chris. Your lens lit up our world.
