It's Indy, it's Indy!

[iubud]

My favorite time of the year. My attraction to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway began when my dad took me to the track when I was 5 years old. The sound of the cars and the bright colors as they went by hooked me for life.

Dad had a friend that worked for years to get a car into the 500. That only fueled my excitement as I got to see his cars up close. I was on the front page of our local paper sitting in the cockpit at an open house at his shop the year he finally had enough funding to make the race. I bumped into Donald Davidson at the IMS museum and asked him about Dad's friend. He not only knew him, he knew where that car ended up. It seems stock car driver Kenny Shrader took his rookie orientation in that car, but never made a qualification attempt. Kenny bought the car as a memento of his only laps at Indy.

A few years earlier, I had a paper route in a rural area. The subscribers were spread out, but there was a nursing home that made my number of subscribers worth the effort. One gentleman in the facility asked me if I liked the Indy 500. I told him about how I would listen to qualifications and the race on the radio and stay up late to watch the race on tape. He told me he was in the race as a riding mechanic. My heart sank as I thought my friend had lost his mind. I told my dad about this crazy guy that said he rode as a passenger in an Indy car. Dad's eyes got big and he explained that really happened a long time ago. I would talk with this man every day about Indy and what was going on that month. After the person died, our paper did a story about him. He never told me he was in a winning car! He had actually won the race twice. His name was Jigger and he died in that nursing home a mile from my house and 150 miles from the track we both loved.

I look forward to going to the race with my son. It is something we have done together since he was 7. This year my cousin is again coordinating the armed forces activities at the track. I will be getting a police escort through traffic and passes to the garage and pits before the race. It is going to be a great month!

 

[VanPastorMan]

My favorite time of the year. My attraction to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway began when my dad took me to the track when I was 5 years old. The sound of the cars and the bright colors as they went by hooked me for life.

Dad had a friend that worked for years to get a car into the 500. That only fueled my excitement as I got to see his cars up close. I was on the front page of our local paper sitting in the cockpit at an open house at his shop the year he finally had enough funding to make the race. I bumped into Donald Davidson at the IMS museum and asked him about Dad's friend. He not only knew him, he knew where that car ended up. It seems stock car driver Kenny Shrader took his rookie orientation in that car, but never made a qualification attempt. Kenny bought the car as a memento of his only laps at Indy.

A few years earlier, I had a paper route in a rural area. The subscribers were spread out, but there was a nursing home that made my number of subscribers worth the effort. One gentleman in the facility asked me if I liked the Indy 500. I told him about how I would listen to qualifications and the race on the radio and stay up late to watch the race on tape. He told me he was in the race as a riding mechanic. My heart sank as I thought my friend had lost his mind. I told my dad about this crazy guy that said he rode as a passenger in an Indy car. Dad's eyes got big and he explained that really happened a long time ago. I would talk with this man every day about Indy and what was going on that month. After the person died, our paper did a story about him. He never told me he was in a winning car! He had actually won the race twice. His name was Jigger and he died in that nursing home a mile from my house and 150 miles from the track we both loved.

I look forward to going to the race with my son. It is something we have done together since he was 7. This year my cousin is again coordinating the armed forces activities at the track. I will be getting a police escort through traffic and passes to the garage and pits before the race. It is going to be a great month!

I've never been to the race. One of my regrets in life was when I had the chance to go when I was in the Air Force at Grissom AFB I declined.

 

[T.M.P.]

I've never been to the race. One of my regrets in life was when I had the chance to go when I was in the Air Force at Grissom AFB I declined.

Cool story, bro.

 

[Mr_Scott]

I have my great grandfathers ticket stub from the 1922 race. My grandfather worked the track as an ISP officer. He once pulled a guy over for speeding on Georgetown Rd. He walks up to the driver and says, "Who the hell ya think ya are fella ? Parnell Jones ?! " It was and he let him go. My dad's first race was 1955 and he saw the accident that killed Bill Vukovich...the greatest driver to ever turn a wheel there. My brothers first race was 1977, Foyts last win, and Tony Hulman's last race. My first race was 1981 when Bobby Unser passed half of the field to "blend in" and the finish was protested. This will be my 37th consecutive race, my daughter's 5th, and my son's 3rd.

Everyday of my life my mind wanders to 16th and Georgetown Road, and I can't imagine being anywhere else on Race Day...

 

[iubud]

I've never been to the race. One of my regrets in life was when I had the chance to go when I was in the Air Force at Grissom AFB I declined.

I wish everyone that has lived in Indiana could be at the track to see and hear the 33 cars run the first 5 laps of the race. If the sound, colors and speed of the cars doesn't grab you, then you can go home having at least experienced it.

The military fly over and the activities before the race are also something special. The Purdue band is the only sour part of the whole day.

 

[Hank Reardon]

I would talk with this man every day about Indy and what was going on that month. After the person died, our paper did a story about him. He never told me he was in a winning car! He had actually won the race twice. His name was Jigger and he died in that nursing home a mile from my house and 150 miles from the track we both loved.

Could have been Jigger Johnson. I think he rode with Wilbur Shaw, among others. The infamous Leroy "Jigger" Sirois was nicknamed after Johnson.

Trivia: In 1969 Jigger Sirois made the 1st qualifying attempt on day 1 and was waved off after 3 laps as the crew felt it wasn't fast enough. Then a storm moved in and washed out the entire day. Jigger tried two more times and never approached his day 1 speed. As it turns out, not only would he have made the race with the waved off speed on day one, but he would have SAT ON THE POLE under the rules in place at that time.

Jigger came back a few times and never did qualify for the race.

It's a spectacle. Whether one is into motor racing or not there is so much history there that it's just an amazing experience.

 

[crossfire74]

My favorite time of the year. My attraction to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway began when my dad took me to the track when I was 5 years old. The sound of the cars and the bright colors as they went by hooked me for life.

Dad had a friend that worked for years to get a car into the 500. That only fueled my excitement as I got to see his cars up close. I was on the front page of our local paper sitting in the cockpit at an open house at his shop the year he finally had enough funding to make the race. I bumped into Donald Davidson at the IMS museum and asked him about Dad's friend. He not only knew him, he knew where that car ended up. It seems stock car driver Kenny Shrader took his rookie orientation in that car, but never made a qualification attempt. Kenny bought the car as a memento of his only laps at Indy.

A few years earlier, I had a paper route in a rural area. The subscribers were spread out, but there was a nursing home that made my number of subscribers worth the effort. One gentleman in the facility asked me if I liked the Indy 500. I told him about how I would listen to qualifications and the race on the radio and stay up late to watch the race on tape. He told me he was in the race as a riding mechanic. My heart sank as I thought my friend had lost his mind. I told my dad about this crazy guy that said he rode as a passenger in an Indy car. Dad's eyes got big and he explained that really happened a long time ago. I would talk with this man every day about Indy and what was going on that month. After the person died, our paper did a story about him. He never told me he was in a winning car! He had actually won the race twice. His name was Jigger and he died in that nursing home a mile from my house and 150 miles from the track we both loved.

I look forward to going to the race with my son. It is something we have done together since he was 7. This year my cousin is again coordinating the armed forces activities at the track. I will be getting a police escort through traffic and passes to the garage and pits before the race. It is going to be a great month!

it's really lost it's mystique and I'm not sure it should. The racing is phenomenal especially considering that NASCAR gets in a line and just play follow the leader. I miss the old days of the Indy 500, but I'm glad you are carrying on the traditions and passing them on to your children.

 

[iubud]

it's really lost it's mystique and I'm not sure it should. The racing is phenomenal especially considering that NASCAR gets in a line and just play follow the leader. I miss the old days of the Indy 500, but I'm glad you are carrying on the traditions and passing them on to your children.

There were a few years it was down when new faces came in and the IRL was new. I don't feel it has lost much now because there are some really good popular American drivers and favorites from Canada and other countries. The new 2012 car created a lot more passing and I expect this current configuration to allow the cars to run closer behind each other and more passing.

Nascar needs to leave IMS. Let's schedule a vintage race event at the speedway instead. It will be a better event and probably draw nearly as many fans.

I just realized recently that Nascar has gone to the "Camaro". It is a stretched Funny Car version of a Camaro. What a weird series it has become.

 

[Hank Reardon]

I think part of the diminished presence of the whole event has to do with the much abbreviated schedule over the years. Used to be the entire month, then is was truncated somewhat but still had a good three weeks plus 4 qualifying days. Now it's what...barely two weeks?

The race itself is still an event, but the circus that used to be the month of May is no more.

 

[iubud]

I think part of the diminished presence of the whole event has to do with the much abbreviated schedule over the years. Used to be the entire month, then is was truncated somewhat but still had a good three weeks plus 4 qualifying days. Now it's what...barely two weeks?

The race itself is still an event, but the circus that used to be the month of May is no more.

I do miss two weekends of qualifying. I miss the last weekend where a driver would jump into a backup car and make a last day attempt to bump into the field. The engine rules and having 2 engine suppliers have made that a thing of the past, Few realize most teams have used the same engine all year and will only get a fresh powerplant before qualification. There are no backup cars sitting in a trailer ready to go.

The race this weekend on the road course has helped make it a bigger event and I have grown more interested in the race and treat it as a new tradition.

 

[Hank Reardon]

Last time I was there for "bump" day was 1995, the year Penske was actually shut out. When Fittipaldi got bumped in the final minutes the place went nuts.

That was the last year it felt like the old Indy 500. Then came the split, and...you know the rest.

 

[iubud]

Saw yesterday that Lilly King is going to drive the pace car at the Indy Grand Prix race this weekend. Interesting choice.

 

[iubud]

Could have been Jigger Johnson. I think he rode with Wilbur Shaw, among others. The infamous Leroy "Jigger" Sirois was nicknamed after Johnson.

Trivia: In 1969 Jigger Sirois made the 1st qualifying attempt on day 1 and was waved off after 3 laps as the crew felt it wasn't fast enough. Then a storm moved in and washed out the entire day. Jigger tried two more times and never approached his day 1 speed. As it turns out, not only would he have made the race with the waved off speed on day one, but he would have SAT ON THE POLE under the rules in place at that time.

Jigger came back a few times and never did qualify for the race.

It's a spectacle. Whether one is into motor racing or not there is so much history there that it's just an amazing experience.

That was him. He never talked about being in the winning car or any stories about his experiences. We talked nearly every day during that month about who was fast that day or who we thought would win. It has always bothered me that he didn't share that he had been in the winning car, twice. He was very nice to me. All the people in there looked forward to me bringing their paper.

Just down the road from his nursing home was the racing shop of Usona Purcell. Jigger would have died just before Usona made his attempts at Indy before finally making it in 1984 with Dennis Firestone.

 

[Tony20]

2 places I never will get tired of entering. Assembly Hall and Wrigley Field. The 3rd is what I imagine Augusta National will be like when I finally get there and the 4th venue is IMS. Walking in the tunnel off 16th between turn 1 and 2 will never get old...especially on race morning.

Always look forward to running into people I only see once per year. Turn 2 infield just pass the family section directly in front of large screen TV so I can watch race after they go by in front of us.

 

[iubud]

2 places I never will get tired of entering. Assembly Hall and Wrigley Field. The 3rd is what I imagine Augusta National will be like when I finally get there and the 4th venue is IMS. Walking in the tunnel off 16th between turn 1 and 2 will never get old...especially on race morning.

Always look forward to running into people I only see once per year. Turn 2 infield just pass the family section directly in front of large screen TV so I can watch race after they go by in front of us.

We used to sit in the infield bleachers between turn 1 and 2. We were sitting there when Stan Fox had his terrible crash.

We sat in the infield bleachers between turns 3 and 4 when Emmo and Little Al had contact in turn 3. I thought Little Al was going to flip off Emmo as he waited for him to come around. I became an Unser fan win he gave Emmo a thumbs up! I don't remember if we moved because they took those seats out or if my wife didn't like walking through the infield to get to our seats. Her last year was when the race was rained out and my son took her place. We now sit in the Paddock Penthouse

 

[Tony20]

We used to sit in the infield bleachers between turn 1 and 2. We were sitting there when Stan Fox had his terrible crash.

We sat in the infield bleachers between turns 3 and 4 when Emmo and Little Al had contact in turn 3. I thought Little Al was going to flip off Emmo as he waited for him to come around. I became an Unser fan win he gave Emmo a thumbs up! I don't remember if we moved because they took those seats out or if my wife didn't like walking through the infield to get to our seats. Her last year was when the race was rained out and my son took her place. We now sit in the Paddock Penthouse

I do the business side a couple times during the next 2 weeks. My wife's firm has a suite out there for race day and we always do the same. Get to turn 2. Lay down the blankets, coolers, chairs....walk across the infield to get to suites. Say our hellos, use fresh bathroom, grab a bite, etc....but after 45 minutes or so...get me back to the infield. Love it on race day.

 

[iubud]

It's Monday and I have a few comments on the weekend qualifications.

First, since I can remember (and that is a long time), qualifying ended at 6:00 p.m., not 5:50 so TV can wrap up the events of the day. I was confused when the TV commentators were counting down the time and that Hinchcliffe wouldn't have a chance to qualify. Rahal wanted to go try another run in a car that hasn't been fast without a tow all month. That meant Hinch didn't have a chance to make another rum. I understand Rossi and Hunter Reay going out. They at least had a shot at the fast 9. I hope Rahal blows his engine on the warmup lap.

I'm trying, but I am not a fan of the current 2 day qualification schedule. The first day is bump day and the second day makes people run again for position? Seems that bump day should be on Sunday. The two day format is fine. I don't mind the fast 9 either. The first day qualifiers should be locked in place, unless they are the slowest and get bumped. Give teams a chance to work on their cars overnight and make another attempt on Sunday and move bump day to where it should be.

I'm disappointed that one of the series popular drivers will be watching while Pippa Mann and Davison will be moving roadblocks all day long. If Saturday had ended at 6:00, I would say that it was a cruel twist of fate like the years Penske and Bobby Rahal missed the race. Instead, ESPN helped Hinch to miss a race.

 

[Brockway]

It's Monday and I have a few comments on the weekend qualifications.

First, since I can remember (and that is a long time), qualifying ended at 6:00 p.m., not 5:50 so TV can wrap up the events of the day. I was confused when the TV commentators were counting down the time and that Hinchcliffe wouldn't have a chance to qualify. Rahal wanted to go try another run in a car that hasn't been fast without a tow all month. That meant Hinch didn't have a chance to make another rum. I understand Rossi and Hunter Reay going out. They at least had a shot at the fast 9. I hope Rahal blows his engine on the warmup lap.

I'm trying, but I am not a fan of the current 2 day qualification schedule. The first day is bump day and the second day makes people run again for position? Seems that bump day should be on Sunday. The two day format is fine. I don't mind the fast 9 either. The first day qualifiers should be locked in place, unless they are the slowest and get bumped. Give teams a chance to work on their cars overnight and make another attempt on Sunday and move bump day to where it should be.

I'm disappointed that one of the series popular drivers will be watching while Pippa Mann and Davison will be moving roadblocks all day long. If Saturday had ended at 6:00, I would say that it was a cruel twist of fate like the years Penske and Bobby Rahal missed the race. Instead, ESPN helped Hinch to miss a race.

Yeah, I don't know where 5:50 came from, but you need to chill.
First, Pippa ain't in the race (thank you bump day).
Second, Hinch had his chances, and he didn't get it done. They weren't fast enough their first time out, they went out again in the final hour and they had a bad vibration. They fell on their face.

This is part of what makes Indy great. The Indianapolis 500 will be just fine without Hinch in the race this year.

I hope they don't buy his way in. There are a lot of things Arrow can do in the next week to gain exposure and look good.

I hope they change the rules so that buy ins can't occur.

 

[iubud]

Yeah, I don't know where 5:50 came from, but you need to chill.
First, Pippa ain't in the race (thank you bump day).
Second, Hinch had his chances, and he didn't get it done. They weren't fast enough their first time out, they went out again in the final hour and they had a bad vibration. They fell on their face.

This is part of what makes Indy great. The Indianapolis 500 will be just fine without Hinch in the race this year.

I hope they don't buy his way in. There are a lot of things Arrow can do in the next week to gain exposure and look good.

I hope they change the rules so that buy ins can't occur.

Oops, yeah Pippa didn't make it in. She just got in line before Hinch could change tires and go out again. Hinch had a wheel sensor break and caused him to come in. Interesting if that had happened on his first run and it had rained out the qualifications before he could run again, he would be allowed to make a run at a later time.

I don't like a driver taking over a qualified car unless it is agreed to be a possibility when a driver accepts a ride. Penske didn't buy a ride when his entire team missed the race. It really hurts the chance to win the title and a reason I don't favor any race being worth double points.

I miss the drivers waiting around the track and the drama if AJ or another team will allow a spare car to be used for an attempt. I know teams still have back up cars, but I'm not sure they have an engine or have to share with the primary car.

Allow second day qualifications and I am good with a single weekend format.

 

[largemouth]

2 places I never will get tired of entering. Assembly Hall and Wrigley Field. The 3rd is what I imagine Augusta National will be like when I finally get there and the 4th venue is IMS. Walking in the tunnel off 16th between turn 1 and 2 will never get old...especially on race morning.

Always look forward to running into people I only see once per year. Turn 2 infield just pass the family section directly in front of large screen TV so I can watch race after they go by in front of us.

I might add Hinkle Fieldhouse to your great list!

 

[Hank Reardon]

It's not like the old days, that's for sure. A driver needs to be bringing sponsorship money in to have any chance at a ride. The days of a bunch of drivers hanging around on a Sunday afternoon waiting for their shot are long gone.

If Hinchcliffe's sponsor is willing to put up the dough, I imagine someone will sell him a ride. The question is how much does the sponsor want to put up for a car that has little chance to win?

I hope he doesn't do it but it's always been the car that qualifies, not the driver. Teams have been swapping one driver out for another forever. I want to say that for a few years in the late 70's someone would qualify a car for Andretti who was overseas in F1. Then Andretti would start the car in 33rd., though obviously that's a completely different scenario.

 

[iubud]

It's not like the old days, that's for sure. A driver needs to be bringing sponsorship money in to have any chance at a ride. The days of a bunch of drivers hanging around on a Sunday afternoon waiting for their shot are long gone.

If Hinchcliffe's sponsor is willing to put up the dough, I imagine someone will sell him a ride. The question is how much does the sponsor want to put up for a car that has little chance to win?

I hope he doesn't do it but it's always been the car that qualifies, not the driver. Teams have been swapping one driver out for another forever. I want to say that for a few years in the late 70's someone would qualify a car for Andretti who was overseas in F1. Then Andretti would start the car in 33rd., though obviously that's a completely different scenario.

Arrow sponsors the other cars as an associate sponsor on the team. I'm curious if they become the primary sponsor on Howard's car. I listened to part of the practice today and they mentioned the crew members for his car are working on the other team cars.

They were really mixing it up in practice. I am expecting a lot of passing in the race. Is it me or are they making their move to pass much later on the straightaway?

 

[76-1]

Arrow sponsors the other cars as an associate sponsor on the team. I'm curious if they become the primary sponsor on Howard's car. I listened to part of the practice today and they mentioned the crew members for his car are working on the other team cars.

They were really mixing it up in practice. I am expecting a lot of passing in the race. Is it me or are they making their move to pass much later on the straightaway?

I much prefer the old version of qualifying. We used to make it a two family outing to go there when I was a kid.

Just can't get fired up to go these days.....

Hey..., you... yeah you...., I see yah...: Get Off My Lawn!!!!!!!!

 

[iubud]

I much prefer the old version of qualifying. We used to make it a two family outing to go there when I was a kid.

Just can't get fired up to go these days.....

Hey..., you... yeah you...., I see yah...: Get Off My Lawn!!!!!!!!

I miss the two weekends too, but that was when the engine deals allowed car owners to make a late deal to put additional cars in the race. That week also allowed some car owners to make deals to acquire another car if they were struggling for speed.

Going to one weekend under the current rules makes sense. I only wish the pole was determined on day one and the other positions were determined as they were in the old days. Oh yeah, and make 6:00 the time of the final gun.

whatever they do with qualifications doesn't matter when it comes to the race. There are still 33 cars and the race is still something I can't wait for every year.

 

[Hank Reardon]

There simply aren't enough teams and cars for 4 days of qualifying. What the heck would they even do the 2nd two days? There have been some years with no bumping at all.

I agree that I like the old format better, but it's obvious why they do it this way now. Would there have been a single person in the stands on Sunday this year under the old format?

 

[dr.jb]

Could have been Jigger Johnson. I think he rode with Wilbur Shaw, among others. The infamous Leroy "Jigger" Sirois was nicknamed after Johnson.

Trivia: In 1969 Jigger Sirois made the 1st qualifying attempt on day 1 and was waved off after 3 laps as the crew felt it wasn't fast enough. Then a storm moved in and washed out the entire day. Jigger tried two more times and never approached his day 1 speed. As it turns out, not only would he have made the race with the waved off speed on day one, but he would have SAT ON THE POLE under the rules in place at that time.

Jigger came back a few times and never did qualify for the race.

It's a spectacle. Whether one is into motor racing or not there is so much history there that it's just an amazing experience.

i know that family.....some really tough luck for Jigger

 

[76-1]

There simply aren't enough teams and cars for 4 days of qualifying. What the heck would they even do the 2nd two days? There have been some years with no bumping at all.

I agree that I like the old format better, but it's obvious why they do it this way now. Would there have been a single person in the stands on Sunday this year under the old format?

I'd actually forgotten that it was two weekends (what I said was it was a two "family" outing that we used to have) ...

I agree with the 1 weekend "old format" that IUBUD mentioned just above.

I do miss all the different engines and chassis that used to be out there in the old days. There was some real innovation going on back then.

I still see yah over there...., Get Off My Lawn!!!

 

[iubud]

Question for Indy fans and those that know race day traffic.

My cousin came through with the police escort and garage and pit passes. The escort will lead us to parking outside turn 4. Since I have always parked at the opposite end of the track, I am unfamiliar how traffic flows from the north side and the preferred way to leave to get to 37 South.

I could go north and pick up I65, north and turn east or west on 38th Street, or east on 30th Street. I am assuming I want to avoid going west immediately and south is out of the question. We went downtown after the race when the Pacers were in the East Finals and it was completely deserted, so is going east better than north?

 

[Mr_Scott]

First off, it was hot.
Second, Will Power is a deserving Champion.
Third, Rossi might be the best driver the series has seen since Rick Mears.

 

[iubud]

First off, it was hot.
Second, Will Power is a deserving Champion.
Third, Rossi might be the best driver the series has seen since Rick Mears.

I like when a successful driver finally wins the race. He has been successful throughout his career and has worked hard to turn a weakness into a strength. He drove a strong race and clearly had the best car at the end of the race.

 

[iubud]

BTW, the police escort into the track was awesome! We parked inside the track in turn 1 and we had a short walk to our car after the race. It was difficult to get to Indy by 7:30, but it was good to do once.

We didn't go into the garage or pits. We decided to check out our new seats and we enjoyed the shade and breeze we had in the Paddock Penthouse. I'll never sit anywhere else. Our own bathrooms(clean) and concession stands nearby was a very nice change.