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| Blogs > tazzerman2000 > Cosmic Debris Part Three! |
The 500....
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The 500....  First off, I took the pic above. (I'm rather proud of it as a matter of fact!) I snuck into the first turn seats during practice that year, got right up against the safety fence and snapped that pic of Danica Patrick at speed as she came through turn one of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's a MUCH harder shot for an amateur than you might think. She was MOVING!  Anyway, I've grown up and lived in Indy, off and on, for my entire life. Of COURSE the Indianapolis 500 has always been a part of my life, just like it is for virtually every person who lives here. Even if you're NOT a race fan, you can't help it. It's a big deal... LOL ;D Of course, it USED to be a MUCH bigger deal. Back in the day, the 500 WAS the largest single day sporting event in the world. They would routinely get between 400,000-500,000 people crammed into the IMS. Of course that was back when the infield was wide open and partying WAS the name of the game. It was billed as the biggest spectacle in racing but it was REALLY the biggest spectacle in DRINKING! LOL IMHO, they drained ALL of the excitement out of the 500 once they started 'capping' the speeds in the name of both safety and cost containment. BOOOO All us 'locals' used to go out for the qualifications BIG TIME just to see the cars/drivers push that 'envelope' so to speak, finally culminating with Arie Luyendyk setting the one lap record at 237.498 mph and the four lap average at 236.986 mph in 1996. That my friends is FLYING! That means he was pretty much topping out at over 240mph down the back straight before diving into turn 3.. Now a days, they're LUCKY to be topping out at 221.00mph. I've always been of the opinion that if they can do 300mph around that track, more power to em! The 500 WAS originally conceived as a testing ground for new technologies and pushing that 'envelope' was in fact the heart and soul of all the excitement! Now they've neutered it and drained a LOT of the excitement out of the race in the name of cost savings AND making the 500 more 'Family Friendly' Trust me, it's STILL a lot of fun but it's nowhere near what it used to be my friends. Of course, there's all KINDS of traditions surrounding the race not the least of which is having Jim Nabors singing 'Back Home Again in Indiana' before the start of the race. Unfortunately, this year, Mr. Nabors will not be there. He's having a valve replaced in is heart.... I wish him well and the start of the 500 just won't be the same without him. No matter what, the SOUND of those 33 cars all diving into turn one at the start of the race is one of sports/auto-racing greatest thrills, even to this day. The stories I could tell you about the old, original Snake Pit in turn one are legendary. Even the COPS were VERY hesitant to enter the Snake Pit during it's height back in the 60-70's.. The authorities did in fact finally shut it down but there was an attempt to revive it in the fourth turn for a few years but it was never the same wild-west show that it was originally. Of course, I've gotten older and in my old age, I NOW love my creature comforts more than I did back in the day so the only time I go to the race is when/if I can be in a suite. I LIKE having my own private, CLEAN bathroom, air-conditioning, free booze/food and of COURSE all those lovely 'Trophy Wives' and their well tended/cared for tootsies! LOL I remember one year, I walked into one of the public toilets where they had a huge trough for the guys to pee in and laying IN the trough was some drunken asshole, totally passed out, totally covered in piss. Eewwwwwww While it IS only a shade of it's former self, the 500 is STILL something I HIGHLY recommend for all.. Another<b> quickie </font></b>story: back when I worked in the corporate world, we had a suite at the track every year and used to bring in big-wigs from the east cost and Boston every year. My boss at the time was the CTO and I invited him to the race. He was VERY hohum about coming but finally agreed. We ended up at the track for what's known as 'Fast Friday' which is the last real practice day before the race. He and I had full garage and pit passes and we where walking down by the first turn, along the pit wall. We got to the end and he started looking around at ALL the grand stands, seats, vistas etc and turned to me, thoroughly impressed I might add and asked if they fill ALL those seats. I told him YES and then some. He came away with a new found appreciation for what continues to be America's premier open-wheel auto-race -tm |
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Yeah, yeah, Anderson, Andersonville...what the hell. If a person didn't like sprint car racing, I'm sure Anderson would FEEL like a prison....! -tmp.s. Sorry to anyone reading this who might LIVE in Anderson but hey, if you DO than you probably agree with me LOL
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Yeah, yeah, Anderson, Andersonville...what the hell. If a person didn't like sprint car racing, I'm sure Anderson would FEEL like a prison....!
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LOVE LOVE LOVE the Brickyard!!! In some ways I'm disappointed I won't be at Indy this year, instead being "up north" at Andersonville for "Little Indy 500" sprint car races. But, who knows? We could still end up at the race, but it's doubtful since I have to work on Monday holiday this year. We'll watch the race from the comfort of the motorhome as we travel, I'm sure - as soon as we get out of the blackout area!
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LOVE LOVE LOVE the Brickyard!!! In some ways I'm disappointed I won't be at Indy this year, instead being "up north" at Andersonville for "Little Indy 500" sprint car races. But, who knows? We could still end up at the race, but it's doubtful since I have to work on Monday holiday this year. We'll watch the race from the comfort of the motorhome as we travel, I'm sure - as soon as we get out of the blackout area!
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That is a way better photoraph of a racing car than I've ever managed - even when I've photographed them standing still! I used to be a really big racing fan but my interest has waned in recent years. My interest was Formula 1 more than Indycars - I am English after all! For me best of all was endurance sports cars and the highlight was and still is Le Mans. I've been a few times and it's been great every time! I consider myself to be luckiest to be there the year Johnny Herbert, Bertrand Gachot and Volker Weidler won for Mazda! Johnny Herbert was my all time fave racing driver - having watched him move (fast) through all the junior categories, then have a massive smash and still comeback to make it into F1. At Le Mans he drove so hard he couldn't stand when he was removed from the car and missed the podium! Plus there was the spectacle of the French cheering every time the Mazda came round as it was closing in on(and then passing) the pitted and hated Mercedes! Happy Memories! I love endurance racing also. Obviously, LeMans is kind of out for me, I do enjoy the American LeMans series and other endurance type races here in the states, a lot! -tm
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