2006 Indianapolis 500
Greatest Spectacle in Racing
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis, Indiana
May 28, 2006
Attendance: 250,000 (estimated)
The pursuit of excellence throughout the competition of a sporting event is approached and prepared differently by each athlete. There is pre-event training and strategy performed, a daily diet followed, and the mental evaluation of the vision ahead. During Memorial Day weekend on the last Sunday in May, teams and drivers bring their high powered ethanol fueled machines to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in hope that all their hard work and dedication prior to the 200 lap race will bring them to drink the bottled milk in Victory Lane at the Indianapolis 500.
Many have a difficult time to sit and watch an Indy-car race around an oval track lap after lap after lap. I know when I was young I would always try to get up early enough for the Sunday morning 9am(PST) start and watch the famous race at the Brickyard, but would either over sleep or lose patience and never finish the race. Patience is the least of the worries for an Indy car racer as he or she is put through the test of elements. The temperatures rise to over 120F/50C in their fire suit as the racer fights off competitors that are accelerating over 200MPH around them. It takes control, confidence, and consistency throughout the whole race for a racer and its team to successfully complete a race. The pressure in the pits to adapt and make the necessary transformations, tire/oil changes, gear adjustments, and to keep the car moving with power, quickness, and quality performance, is a constant struggle. I believe the most important element that can best describe the success of an Indy racing team is endurance. The racers have two tubes that are connected to their helmet. 1) Communication line back in the pits with their crew chief
2) Fluid line that re-hydrates the racer preferably Gatorade™ providing the racer the energy to stay cool and keep up their stamina. A definite mind set and intelligence of racing is needed for the racer to compete. The understanding of control and the feel of speed under pressure is a must to master for a racer to be able to even enter into such a high performance vehicle let alone an Indy car. The cockpit is open air as the racer has a low center of gravity with an eye level of the track. I couldn’t imagine what goes on through an Indy racer’s mind accelerating around the infamous track, striving to progress and win the race.
It was either travel to the south of France and eyewitness the F1 Formula One Monaco Gran Prix, or take the trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. I arrived late Saturday afternoon and took a public bus into the city from the airport where I grabbed some dinner and enjoyed the beautiful historical capitol buildings of downtown Indianapolis under the stars. Once again I was stranded with no bed to lay my head for the night, but that didn’t stop me and my anticipation to get a feel for the excitement in the city famous for its race in May. One thing Indianapolis lacks is late night public transportation so my red backpack and I hit the pavement and walked for 6 miles to the track. Outside of the venue across the street at the local gas station, people were partying and drinking all night as motorcycle clubs arrived to socialize and fill up. I found a soft patch of cool grass where I laid out relaxing and eventually got an on and off snooze until the sunrise. It is always such an interesting sight outside a major sporting event to view the transformation and set up from a complete idle, desolate, and closed down area, into a fast paced, selling-like-crazy, world class venue. From darkness to sunshine beating down throughout the morning madness, I got my shooting hand ready and entered into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the four turn track was completely empty just waiting for some quality photos. I even was able to stand on the last strip of bricks at the finish line that were part of the original brickyard track. My original bought ticket for $60.00 via Ebay was in the bleachers in turn one and I found it disappointing since I like to be at the center of attention where the most action and focus of the event takes place. The more surrounding people, the better for my soul, since it allows me to get a real feel for the day’s festive energy and enthusiasm. Therefore I purchased a $90.00 ticket directly from the IMS and picked it up the morning of the event. I was extremely surprised that a ticket to such a big event costs so much less compared to other events I have attended (The Masters $800, Winter Olympics Women’s Figure Skating $530, World Series $440). That’s how it should be though so people of all ages, and families with children can enjoy such a great Memorial Day weekend celebration. With my two tickets I was able to leave and be re-admitted as I toured around taking my usual 15+ rolls of film trying to grasp through my camera my unique experience so I can share with others. As the race got closer to start I found my way back into the racetrack and took my seat that was about 15 rows up from the pits and 7 sections from the finish line below the infamous pagoda and in view of the tall endless racer leader board. Before the race some of Indy’s legendary winners were paraded down the track; AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti, Arie Luytendyk, Emerson Fittipaldi, Rick Mears, and Bobby Unser. It’s always great to see champions in person and view the way they present themselves with such pride and confidence. The pre-race ceremony tradition continued as the Purdue University All-American Marching Band played Taps, Florence Henderson sang “God Bless America”, and Jim Nabors (Gomer Pile sang “Back Home Again in Indiana.”) The “Gentleman start your engines” starting command was announced by Mari Hulman George, current chairman of the IMS, and Lance Armstrong in the 2006 Chevrolet pace car led the 33 racers around the track with Sam Horton Jr. as the pole setter with an avg. 228.985 in his qualifying lap.
The Indianapolis 500 is another event that is a must to see in person to get a real feel of emotions especially the ear popping sounds of the roaring engines as they come down the stretch out of turn four, pass pit row, and through the finish line. Before the race I rented a scanner outside the track that would have permitted me to listen in on all the communication between the racers and their crews, but the scanner didn’t function properly, as I used them as ear protection since it was definitely needed every few minutes as the racers blasted by in front of me. As the race continued and drivers began to fall off due to in the wall crashes or mechanical failures, my supportive attitude began to mount up steam. On my head was a hat that I bought on Ebay that had Andretti printed on it with Mario Andretti’s signature. Little did my luck know what would lie ahead for me as I experienced the most exciting and satisfying sporting event EVER in my life. I was there to see John Elway win his first Super Bowl, in attendance for both Olympics, and witnessed the first World Series between the Yankees and Mets, but there isn’t a more perfect back story that could have been created then the one that was in full effect on May 28, 2006 at the 90th Indy 500.
In the Number 14 car was the son of the Mario Andretti (1969 winner), Michael Andretti who came out of retirement after 2 years in charge of Andretti Green Racing, to race with his son Marco, age 19 (Kart racer champion) who had never raced 500 miles before. On the 193rd lap of the 200 lap race at the 2.5 mile IMS, Michael Andretti inherited the lead for the first time when his teammates Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti both made final pit stops. He led four laps, but he would only add to the distinction as the driver whose lead more laps at Indy than any non-winner. Then with three laps to go his young son Marco (2nd youngest racer at Indy) passed his father and was trailed by Sam Horton Jr. (pole setter) who survived a disastrous pit penalty. As they came out of turn 4 I spotted the three racers flying down the final stretch. Marco was dead center while Hornish swung low, pulled alongside, and passed him on the inside to take the checkered flag. It would mark the first time in the history of the Indianapolis 500 that the winner actually passed for the lead on the final lap, and the second closest finish at .0635 of a second.
For the next 30 minutes I stood in complete shock as my eyes and heart couldn’t believe what just happened. My emotions completely drained me as I was filled with excitement for the Andretti Racing Team as they came so close to victory. I eventually made it down near Victory Lane where the Penske Team and Horton entourage were celebrating their well fought win. I gave thumbs up to Bret Musburger that called the race for ABC, and was on his way out of the pagoda. I collect ticket stubs of all the events I go to and always keep my eyes open for new discoveries. In the distance I spotted a ticket on the track near the pace car and got the attention of a security officer requesting her to pick it up for me. This was no ticket stub my friends, but a pit/garage pass that permitted me for the next three hours to hang out with the teams in their different garages taking pictures with the cars that just raced 500 miles. The biggest crowd was outside the Andretti Racing Team garage, where I stood by listening in on interviews with father and son Michael and Marco. There was a true sense of disappointment in the air, but still with high class composure and professionalism, they both answered everyone’s questions thoroughly and elegantly.
By the end of the day I eye witnessed a gem of Indy racing history, got to see some legendary racers, and left the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with three generations of Andretti (Mario, Michael, Marco) signatures on my sweaty hat. It goes to show you one can be in the right place at the right time seeking with the right will, in places where one can surely observe and encounter what it takes to be a champion- RVB�
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