Posted on 05/27/2018 8:19:49 AM PDT by God luvs America
The 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500- the greatest race in the world!!! Hometown and VP Pence family favorite Ed Carpenter sits on pole, the only driver to turn a lap in excess of 230MPH during qualifying. Marco Andretti has been strong the entire month of May but slipped in qualifying. Final race in the career of Danica Patrick, which will be covered annoyingly today. Gentlemen- Start Your Engines!!
I have that book. Good read about a tragic race. I remember the black smoke and Eddie Sachs and MacDonald being killed. Growing up 60 miles from the track, I always listened to the race, then would watch on TV (delayed) that night when I couldn’t be there. It’s a tradition every year for my son and I.
isn’t it still tape delay in Indiana?? I was at the race in 2015 then watched the race later that night after getting back from the speedway to my hotel...
isn’t it still tape delay in Indiana?? I was at the race in 2015 then watched the race later that night after getting back from the speedway to my hotel...
Yup. I prefer European style road rallies where they don’t drive around in circles all day.
It won’t be four for Helio Castroneves today!
good..
its getting busy
I spent my formative years in little Speedway, IN (where the track is actually located). I've done virtually everything there is to do at that (world's largest) facility. I do have to regrettably inform you that the 500, while still impressive as an event, is NOTHING like it was 30 years ago. Before the late 90s, it was a MONTH-LONG party, culminating in a MardiGras weekend before the Race itself. The Snake Pits, on the infield, home to the Biker Gangs, were.... highly educational for me as a teen, shall we say. Bob and Tom, just local radio jocks back then, were part of, or the cause of, soooo much drunken mischief and public nudity.
Today, the crowds are smaller, the process of events are crammed into a single week, it's almost all "family-friendly", and it is sad to see, compared to my memories of 1980-2000. The last time I brought people to enjoy it all, I was apologizing almost half the time. It was nothing like I had described for weeks beforehand. Sure, there's a little bit of adventure to be had, and the cars (recently re-engineered and apparently fly out of control for no reason all day today, with every single-car crash victim saying "I have no idea what went wrong") are still loud and pulse pure POWER... but you'll never get what I grew up with.
I think they finally show it live. I don’t live in IN anymore, so I watch it live, unless I go back for the race. But when I was younger it was tape delayed. I grew up listening to Sid Collins and then Paul Page. I miss the old days with all the old drivers and Tom Carnegie on the PA.
30 years ago- just about the time tony george was taking over only to completely destroy open wheel racing in America..
i loved Tom Carnegie...voice from my childhood...you could hear that booming voice on the background..
It is, but the blackout CAN be lifted if it is a sellout (to encourage local attendance). It was not a sellout this year. Ratings and attendance continue to fall, year after year.
I don’t say that name. I was calling him out for horrible decisions even when I was a teen, and before he split open-wheel racing. Don’t get me started.
20 laps left...here we go!!
it is very full today...usually the tower terrace, the seats behind pit lane, are half full for the first half of the pits but they are full today...even the stands into turn 3 which has large swaths of empty benches, is pretty full today..
Never been to a race but did visit and took the tour. The place is truly overwhelming even empty and deserted. Long time car racing fan. I suppose seeing the 500 is still on my bucket list. One day perhaps.
8 lap sprint to the finish if no yellows to disrupt.
Will Power for the win!
Nice story. Power wins the Indy Grand Prix there a couple weeks ago, then follows up with the 500.
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