May 25, 2008

May 25, 2008

The 92nd running of the Indy 500 starts at 1 PM this afternoon. When we start walking to the track around 9 AM, the rest of this massive lot we are parked in is filled with tens of thousands of cars. We spend the next couple hours checking out the infield of the track and walking along pit row. There are all kinds of events leading up to the start of the race including a low-altitude flyover of four military jets at the end of the National Anthem.

Once the race starts Aimee and I are shocked. The noise is deafening and it is impossible to hear Aimee yell into my ear. After fifteen minutes we buy earplugs to prevent ear pain. We bought seats in the “Paddock” along the straightaway across from the pits. The cars are 20 yards away and zipping by at over 230 mph. A blink of an eye. Think of standing by an interstate and then triple the speed. My body rumbles when the cars pass. The track is 2.5 miles around taking the racers 45 seconds to circumnavigate the oval. The race is really a stop and start event. They race fast for a while, then somebody crashes and they drive slow till the track gets cleared, and then fast again. The winner of this marathon in many respects is the one who can avoid crashing. Not an easy thing going at an average speed of 220 mph.

Some of the pits are across the track from us. If you want to watch them change tires, you have to stay awake. They have the tires off, new ones on, and the fuel tank refilled in mere seconds. Amazing. Halfway thru this four-hour race, we walk the mile to a corner stand to see the difference. It is much better place for a racing fan to watch the action but the spectacle and impact is lost.

Scott Dixon from New Zealand won the race but Danica Patrick is sure the fan favorite. The announcer was always mentioning her position throughout the race. There are now three woman drivers, and all left the race because of accidents (no big surprise).

I have to say the one of the nicest parts of the event was when we watched the crowd of cars inch their way out of the parking lot while we relax and drink a beer.