I’m going to the Brickyard!

[tlawler]

First turn on the first lap. In the fifth caution now and less than 100 laps.

 

[lihpster]

Looking like Nascar short track racing out there.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I am such an enthusiast that when I won tickets for the Goodyear box at the Indy 500, I sold them at 50% and was thrilled to unload them.

 

[tlawler]

I am such an enthusiast that when I won tickets for the Goodyear box at the Indy 500, I sold them at 50% and was thrilled to unload them.

It’s an experience! I don’t know if I’d do it again, but I’m glad to have done it. At this point, I’ve been up for close to 28 hours…I had to cancel my flight back to Tampa last night because of the 4 hour delay…next flight was at 5:40am, and I just landed in Tampa a few minutes ago. Between all the walking at the track and the two airports, my phone says I’ve done nearly 15,000 steps since 5am yesterday. I’m almost home free…I’ve got an hour and a half drive back to Port Charlotte, then I’m probably going to sleep until I have to wake up for work tomorrow. I wouldn’t have had time to type this, except I’m waiting for the dang baggage claim belt to start so I can get my bag and head home to my bed

 

[soFlaNative]

Glad the detour was safe and enjoyable.
Enjoy the downtime.

 

[Tom S.]

Indy 500 on a figure 8 track! Now that would be a spectacle!

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

It’s an experience! I don’t know if I’d do it again, but I’m glad to have done it. At this point, I’ve been up for close to 28 hours…I had to cancel my flight back to Tampa last night because of the 4 hour delay…next flight was at 5:40am, and I just landed in Tampa a few minutes ago. Between all the walking at the track and the two airports, my phone says I’ve done nearly 15,000 steps since 5am yesterday. I’m almost home free…I’ve got an hour and a half drive back to Port Charlotte, then I’m probably going to sleep until I have to wake up for work tomorrow. I wouldn’t have had time to type this, except I’m waiting for the dang baggage claim belt to start so I can get my bag and head home to my bed

It would be a boring world if we all liked the same stuff. Glad that you had a good time.

 

[SMSgt]

God didn't make little green apples
And it don't rain in Indianapolis in the summertime.
Roger Miller

In his defense, it is not yet summer.

 

[tlawler]

I started thinking back to when I first became interested in the Indy 500 and remembered reading a book about it back around 4th or 5th grade. My parents would match me on my grass cutting money to order books from the Scholastic series if I promised to read them. I used to get so excited when that box of books would show up in our classroom and the teacher would pass them out.

I looked it up, and the picture of the cover brought back a flood of nostalgia for me. I did a book report on it and got most of the boys in the class interested in it too. I swore then and there, that I was going to go see it at least once in my life.

 

[M29since14]

When I was a lad, and friend and I used to climb a big old spruce tree to hide out and listen to the race on our greatest worldly possessions - pocket-size transistor radios powered by a 9V battery. Things have changed a lot over the years from when Mr. Hulman ran the show. I guess what hasn’t? I don’t pay nearly as much attention to racing as I used to, but I’ll always have a soft spot my heart for the 500 - and the old days.

It’s nice that someone like Roger Penske is finally returning the place more toward its roots, at least in my opinion. I’m happy to know you got your chance to attend and got the full experience. Maybe you'll do it again sometime?

 

[lihpster]

I started thinking back to when I first became interested in the Indy 500 and remembered reading a book about it back around 4th or 5th grade. My parents would match me on my grass cutting money to order books from the Scholastic series if I promised to read them. I used to get so excited when that box of books would show up in our classroom and the teacher would pass them out.

I looked it up, and the picture of the cover brought back a flood of nostalgia for me. I did a book report on it and got most of the boys in the class interested in it too. I swore then and there, that I was going to go see it at least once in my life.

Seeing your childhood dreams come true is one of the greatest things in life. Congrats on achieving what you set out to do, even if it took a little while.

 

[dekeshooter]

Indy 500 on a figure 8 track! Now that would be a spectacle!

That happens the night before the Indy 500 at Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Indiana.

The track is a high banked, 1/4 mile paved oval. 33 sprint cars start the race in 11 rows of three just like they do in the big race. The race distance is 500 laps and it requires two pit stops to complete. The car’s pits are located in the infield on the crossovers of the figure 8 track. Sprint cars do not have onboard starters and require a push truck to start them. During pit stops, the push trucks push the cars from the pits and onto the apron of the track often while under green flag racing.


This event is one every short track race fan should see once in their lives, and I say that as someone who prefers dirt racing over pavement.

 

[alwslate]

Been a few times. Lots of crashes, lots of drunks. After the races your face is covered with a layer of black residue from the tires Great old fashion fun if you can stand it.

 

[tlawler]

Been a few times. Lots of crashes, lots of drunks. After the races your face is covered with a layer of black residue from the tires Great old fashion fun if you can stand it.

Yeah, the drunks were out in force. With the four hour delay, there was a lot of time for them to down plenty of alcohol. I was a bit surprised that the track allowed everyone to bring their own alcohol, and they sure did! The delay caused the concessions to run out of everything to eat or drink by the second caution flag. Lots of grumbling, but surprisingly no fights broke out that I know of. Also, I didn’t know about the “Snake Pit”. It’s a venue within a venue type thing and features a lot of drunk and drugged out kids banging their heads to electronic dance music. The thing that bothered me the most about it is the non stop loud thumping music (and I use that term very loosely) was drowning out a lot of what the announcers were saying. And that was being a good quarter mile away from it.

Here’s a picture of it all the way on the other side of the track.