The sun was remorseless as it shone down. As the field of 33 cars came around Turn 4 in lines of three the crowd rose to its feet. I could feel the rumble of the cars through the floor of the grandstand, shaking my feet and the roar of the engines deep within my gut. This was my first Indianapolis 500.
I read about the Indy 500 a long time before I ever saw any footage of it. Growing up in the 1980s I found out about the race via Autosport magazine and other publications. I remember one Saturday in the early 1990s where the BBC showed highlights of that year’s race on their Grandstand show. The first race I saw live was the 1993 race, interested to see how Nigel Mansell would get on. It was probably that afternoon that I decided I would go if I ever got the chance.
My chance came a few months ago when I started doing some research for an MA which included a trip to Chicago. I was determined that if I could plan my field trip well and if I could afford it I would combine it to include some US motorsport. As the trip started to take shape I realised that I could actually tie it in to Indy.
I read about the Indy 500 a long time before I ever saw any footage of it. Growing up in the 1980s I found out about the race via Autosport magazine and other publications. I remember one Saturday in the early 1990s where the BBC showed highlights of that year’s race on their Grandstand show. The first race I saw live was the 1993 race, interested to see how Nigel Mansell would get on. It was probably that afternoon that I decided I would go if I ever got the chance.
My chance came a few months ago when I started doing some research for an MA which included a trip to Chicago. I was determined that if I could plan my field trip well and if I could afford it I would combine it to include some US motorsport. As the trip started to take shape I realised that I could actually tie it in to Indy.
I flew in the day before the race. The airport was geared up to celebrate. There were old cars on display and the terminal also includes the “Indy 500 Grill” and a memorabilia shop. I made a huge mistake in finding a cheap hotel. The place was way out of the downtown area and so I had to pay a huge taxi fare to get there. I was 50 bucks lighter and I’d only been in town for an hour. Having said that the hotel had free beer and snacks that evening so I settled down, set my alarm for 5am and got an early night.
The taxi drive to the circuit was another $30 (book early and stay downtown!) but the sight of getting to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a real treat. I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it. Incidentally motor sport stopped giving me goose bumps years ago. I’m cynical and I don’t even believe in them anymore. Well, I didn’t. On Georgetown Road you see the grandstand of the frontstretch and it goes on forever. It’s an amazing sight in itself but when you arrive and see it for the first time you can’t help but wonder how you’ll feel when you see things from the other side.
The taxi drive to the circuit was another $30 (book early and stay downtown!) but the sight of getting to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a real treat. I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it. Incidentally motor sport stopped giving me goose bumps years ago. I’m cynical and I don’t even believe in them anymore. Well, I didn’t. On Georgetown Road you see the grandstand of the frontstretch and it goes on forever. It’s an amazing sight in itself but when you arrive and see it for the first time you can’t help but wonder how you’ll feel when you see things from the other side.
I collected my tickets with ease, got into the track and got my fanvision set by 7am. My thought at this point was how the hell am I going to fill in the time between now and the rest of the race? I decided to take a little walk. My grandstand seat was between Turn 4 and the yard of bricks so I decided to walk towards Turn 1 and see that bit first. I noticed people walking toward the track and followed. Before I knew it I was on the track itself at the entrance to Turn 1! It was another goose bump moment. I could see back towards Turn 4, the haze of the early morning sun, the Pagoda, the flags along the grandstand on the infield. What an amazing vision.
You know what it’s like in the UK; you can’t move around an event without someone asking to see your ticket or demanding more money for walking through a gate. One of the joyous things about this event is its openness. I walked over the track and onto the infield. Gasoline Alley, merchandise stores, food stalls, fresh lemonade and more would keep me entertained for a few hours. There’s also the small matter of the garages where you can catch a glimpse of the cars and the teams working on them. On the way back out and across the circuit at Turn 1 I stumbled across the marching bands as they made their way around the track.
You know what it’s like in the UK; you can’t move around an event without someone asking to see your ticket or demanding more money for walking through a gate. One of the joyous things about this event is its openness. I walked over the track and onto the infield. Gasoline Alley, merchandise stores, food stalls, fresh lemonade and more would keep me entertained for a few hours. There’s also the small matter of the garages where you can catch a glimpse of the cars and the teams working on them. On the way back out and across the circuit at Turn 1 I stumbled across the marching bands as they made their way around the track.
I eventually meandered to my grandstand seat, soaked up some sunshine before the covered seat provided shade and enjoyed the build-up. With merchandise and food stalls within a short walk from my seat I didn’t really want for anything, other than to see a great race. Before it got under way we had all the usual traditions. The prayer, a parade of the US military, Jim Nabors singing for the last time, the balloons, the national anthem and the command to start engines. The atmosphere as the crowd builds is like none other I’ve experienced. Yes, they’re passionate and patriotic but they’re also relaxed, chilled and pleasant. I found everyone to be really nice and the atmosphere was just one of sheer enjoyment.
The race itself I won’t go into too much detail. It was great to see so much green flag racing and I set my fanvision device to give me audio from Juan Montoya’s radio. I was able to follow the twists and turns of his race as he first started to move up on fuel strategy and then just go for it full blast following a penalty. Listening to him and his crew discuss the options was a great way to follow the race.
Just to emphasise the fairness of the crowd in the final laps it was Helio Castroneves who was getting the most support from fans around me. I think they were pleased to see Ryan Hunter-Reay cross the line but they have their favourites and I think it would be wrong to assume anything on the basis of nationality. Those that stayed in the grandstands to cheer Hunter-Reay around on his winner’s parade lap were certainly chanting “USA! USA!” though. I was able to walk freely to the yard of bricks and made it just in time to see the winner kiss them. And then I made my way into the infield again, had a “Seriously Spiked” glass of lemonade and then headed back to my hotel.
Just to emphasise the fairness of the crowd in the final laps it was Helio Castroneves who was getting the most support from fans around me. I think they were pleased to see Ryan Hunter-Reay cross the line but they have their favourites and I think it would be wrong to assume anything on the basis of nationality. Those that stayed in the grandstands to cheer Hunter-Reay around on his winner’s parade lap were certainly chanting “USA! USA!” though. I was able to walk freely to the yard of bricks and made it just in time to see the winner kiss them. And then I made my way into the infield again, had a “Seriously Spiked” glass of lemonade and then headed back to my hotel.
The trip back was harder than in the morning. With the roads clogged up I had to walk miles before I could see a taxi to hail. I tried calling a taxi firm but they refused to even go near the speedway. The taxi driver from the morning had turned his phone off entirely! . I was running low on mobile battery so I’d advise people to bring some extra power. I made it eventually and reflected on the day.
I sampled downtown Indianapolis the next day and it’s a gem of a city. It’s compact for sure but it has a great deal to enjoy. I walked around and got acquainted with the place. I walked up the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Tower and went around the museum of American Indian Art. If you go to the Indy 500 be sure to look around the city too. Plan your trip better than I did and stay downtown. If you can’t do that then study the bus routes before you get out there.
I always thought the tagline “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” was simple hyperbole. I’ve been to Le Mans, F1, the Olympics and the NFL but I’ve never been to an event like this. From the moment you arrive to the time you leave this place on this particular Sunday in May has “Greatest Spectacle” written all over it. It is seriously a very special outing.
Above all else enjoy everything this great event has to offer. The race is the main attraction but it’s only part of the day.
You can follow Jon on Twitter
I sampled downtown Indianapolis the next day and it’s a gem of a city. It’s compact for sure but it has a great deal to enjoy. I walked around and got acquainted with the place. I walked up the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Tower and went around the museum of American Indian Art. If you go to the Indy 500 be sure to look around the city too. Plan your trip better than I did and stay downtown. If you can’t do that then study the bus routes before you get out there.
I always thought the tagline “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” was simple hyperbole. I’ve been to Le Mans, F1, the Olympics and the NFL but I’ve never been to an event like this. From the moment you arrive to the time you leave this place on this particular Sunday in May has “Greatest Spectacle” written all over it. It is seriously a very special outing.
Above all else enjoy everything this great event has to offer. The race is the main attraction but it’s only part of the day.
You can follow Jon on Twitter