Excited about Indy

This year's Indy 500 is shaping up to be great. As has been noted, Alonso will be there, which is good for motorsport everywhere. I want him to do well, but I don't think it will be the walk in the park that some in the smug F1 community seem to be expecting. Indy is in a class of its own, and kudos to Alonso for recognizing that. Hopefully more F1 types will come over for next year. I do love seeing the old McLaren yellow paint job on his car--reminds of many days as a kind watching those yellow McLaren Can Am cars thunder by. They set my course as a race fan/racer for life.

This year, I'm really interested in watching what Josef Newgarden will be able to do now that he is part of Penske. The kid is fast, tough, aggressive but clean, and a real gentleman. I've never heard him whine or make excuses, unlike some (cough, cough, Andretti). I'd also like to see Helio get his 4th.

I went with the kids last year to the 100th, and it was great. They came on the PA and announced that if it was a city, the Speedway would be the 54th largest in the U.S. When Rossi went through T1 on fumes on the last lap, with the hounds in hot pursuit, the place was electric.

I am tempted to hop on a plane for this year's. Who from Pelican is going?

[wdfifteen]

It's a 2 hour drive from here, but I've never been. Maybe I should go. I have a tradition of being in my shop working on my cars and listening to the 500. Hate to break the tradition.

Set up to the race, then go. Play the tape in your garage the next weekend. Start that as a tradition!

I first went in 2007, with the kids. It was astonishing to see it in real life after years on television. Kind of like seeing a top fuel dragster in person. It's life altering for a car guy.

[strupgolf]

Knock youself out there my friend. The race, boredom. The event, great.

[chapo]

Lov the race, never boring. Will attend one day. Was lucky enough to go the F1 race there

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Knock youself out there my friend. The race, boredom. The event, great.

Have you been, or just seen it on TV? If you haven't gone in person, I recommend it.

[ted]

Andretti at Long Beach broke all 4 of their Honda powered cars.
Now they will be supporting 6? Honda powered cars at Indy.
If Alonso is a DNF at Indy I hope for Honda's sake it is not the engine.
Alonso has experienced a few years of Honda power failures.
It would be unexpected to see Alonso win any race in a Honda.

[fred cook]

I got to go to the Indy 500 in 1960 when I was 12 years old! My dad had gotten tickets for seats right at the pit exit and just a few rows up from the track. Great seats! One of the things that I remember about the race is that the STP Special with the small displacement, supercharged V8 was much louder than any of the Offenhauser powered cars! Jim Rathman was the winner that year. After the race was over, the track was opened up to allow the fans to walk around it. Don't know if they still do that or not.

[widgeon13]

Any women in the field (driving). Ha Ha

[Salty Springs]

madcorgi
Funny you mentioned can am races. Thats where my love of Porsches comes from. This is my wife sitting in a Can Am car in 1973. That throng of people in the background is surrounding Mark Donahue in his 917/30,they wouldn't let her sit in that! I have always loved Indy. Used to go all day and not listen to the radio so I could watch the race in the evening (tape delayed). Was there the year Salt Walther was killed (early seventies) very sad. I actually think the racing is a lot better now than it ever has been.
Dave

[Salty Springs]

I need to correct myself. Salt Walther survived that crash.

Salty,
That is a great 70s style photo--pretty girl with long hair with flowers in it. Cool.

I first got into Indy as a young lad when the STP Turbine Car, driven by Parnelli Jones, changed everything. When I took the kids in 2007, we watched the race live, then went back to the hotel and watched it again. That was the year Dario Franchitti won, and there were several rain delays. During the delays, we walked all over the place, and even saw Paul Newman drive by in a golf cart (he died of cancer shortly thereafter).

The race finished under yellow in a downpour, and we got to watch Ashley Judd, soaking wet in a delightfully clingy dress, jump up and down with excitement in victory lane.

I too think the racing is better than ever, and I think it's the most exciting series. F1 has the technology, but in a typical F1 field only a couple guys have a chance to win. And there seems to be more passing in a quarter mile drag race than in your average F1 parade. And I still like ovals the best.

[strupgolf]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

Have you been, or just seen it on TV? If you haven't gone in person, I recommend it.

I live less than a 1 hour drive to the track and have been there many times. The whole month is great, activities abound. I just hate cookie cutter racing, no inovation what so ever in Indycar these days. Having Alonzo here will be the story line for the month. Zac Brown said he would love to see McLaren cone back to indy, but that will never happen because they will not allow "other" makes to race per the rules wanting everything being the same. Oh well, the event is still great, but the race is still boring. I hope all who attend have a good time.

[copbait73]

I live about an hour drive north. Not going to the Indy race his year but have tickets for the Indy GP this next Saturday. GP is more relaxed, but not the spectacle that the 500 is. Everyone who likes performance cars should go to the Indy 500 race at least once in their life.