Race day
I’m not into sports. Soccer leaves me flat (though I was forced to play it when I was in school) Baseball, basketball, football. Don’t care, don’t care, don’t care. Oh, I’ve spent many a Thanksgiving afternoon sleeping on the couch while otrhers watched some game or another, but me, i just don’t care.
As a general rule, I do not consider it a sport which doesn’t result in the death of some woodland critter destined for the dinner table.
Also, as a general rule, I do not watch auto racing, not that I’m not interested, but a lot of racing is about being at the track, more so, anyway, than watching on TV. So I don’t get too heavily interested.
The Indy 500, on the other hand, is my once a year sporting event. I like to grill up some burgers & brats, heat up some baked beans, sit in front of the TV and watch Jim Nabors sing the state anthem; I can sing it just like him, too!! How many people do you know that know their state songs? almost all Hoosiers do.
Florence Henderson will sing “God Bless America”. I will stand for the anthem, in my living room, as I have done every Indy since I was a cub scout.
I love the Indy 500. I love the spectacle, the couple hours of cars turning left. It’s also the only time during the year I drink, partner and I usually take turns pulling at a bottle of old tawny port and napping, the wife wakes us up for the finish. After all, it is really the first 15 laps and the last 15 that are most meaningful, and exciting. As a hoosier, I consider it my patriotic duty, and today, I’m gonna do it.
I am a complete racing fan, and my first trip to The Indy 500 in 1991 was one of my greatest pilgrimages. I saw Rick Mears when his 4th and final Indy in a classic battle with Michael Andretti. I’ll try to put that crazed weekend into perspective soon at rankinblog.
The incredible size and scope of the event live, the ticket market and open air souk of the street in front of the main entrance, the speed and shriek of the cars as they go by at impossible speeds–The Indy 500 should be seen by everyone at some point or another.
I fully expect that waterhead Paul Page to make the TV experience less than it should be, but I’ll be tuned in. I predict a Penske win, either Castroneves with his 3rd or Sam Hornish with his first. Hornish is probably the closest thing to a Jeff Gordonesque American Hero that big time open wheel racing has on hand currently. His win would be a big one for the sport and its marketability vs NASCAR. But 500 miles in these delicate steeds with all the attendant pressure and scruitiny come to bear is maybe the tallest order in all of motorsports.
It’s an awesome race, isn’t it? I saw the race for the first time in person in 1973, when Swede Savage died. Nothing compares.
As a kid, I sneered at only turning left, and would go to the local SCCA road races (I sneered at drag racing too, but then I was a young snot.)
Saw my first Indy type race at the first event held at the old Ontario Raceway (since closed) in California, and have been hooked ever since.
Is there any truth to the rumor that the EU will try to introduce “Synchronized Grand Prix” as a new Olympic Event?
Rich
I’m with you. Although I don’t follow the sport as closely as I used to I still love it. I haven’t made it to Indy yet but I recall fondly trips to MIS.