I used to listen to it on the radio as a kid, because ABC only broadcast it at night.
That’s right. It’s been blacked out for most of the time. Still is.
One thing I didn’t know before moving to the Indy area is that all of May is dedicated to the race around here. Checkered flags go up all around town. That’s because of all the trial runs they do before the big race.
I have never been to the actual race, though a lot of people here go frequently. I have been to the Brickyard and “kissed the bricks”. It’s a cool place.
One funny story I have is that years ago, my UPS man was delivering a large number of packages to our house. So as he unloaded the items, we chatted. He told me that he was going to be retiring soon. Then he told me he had been working as a pit crew member at the Speedway, and that his goal was to one day get a ring for being on the winning pit crew. He had the style and everything picked out. He carried around the order form as motivation, and he showed it to me. That was probably 5 or 6 years ago. He did indeed retire from UPS shortly after that.
Fast forward to 2021. We watched Helio Castoneves win that year. Before I knew it, I saw Johnny on the TV screen drinking milk with Helio and the rest of the crew! He was so excited, and I was excited for him!! Cool achievement, bro!
Went to the race 7 years in a row back in the 70’s. Even went all 3 days in 1973 during the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Raining’. Last time I attended live was in the mid-80’s. Now I listen while slow smoking a Boston Butt for pulled pork sandwiches. Turn off the radio with about 50 laps to go and watch the rebroadcast in the evening.
I always have the IMS radio feed on with the TV. The race is great on broadcast radio. Check it out Sunday on the Indy website