Once we got into Indianapolis, we decided to find the racetrack, check out the parking situation, and get a feel for the area so we wouldn't be "lost" tomorrow. I'm so glad we did that, because it's already a total madhouse! The race is obviously a big deal around here. There are people and cars and RV's everywhere, checkered flags are flying in front of houses, and the air is filled with the party atmosphere. We're glad we decided to get a motel on the outskirts of town.
Once we found our way around some, we visited the Indy 500 Hall of Fame . . .
Inside they have the winning cars from all the previous races. Here are a few of the more recent winners . . .
And a few more . . .
This is the car that won the very first Indy 500 . . .
And this is the car driven last year by Danica Patrick in her fourth Indy 500 race. She won "Rookie of the Year" and finished fourth her first year, 2005 - the first female to ever win that distinction! She finished in 4th Place, and possibly could have won if she hadn't run low on gas and had to slow her speed down for the last few laps - pretty awesome! I'll be rooting for her tomorrow!
Not being an avid car racing fan, I didn't know that it's a tradition for the Indy 500 winner to drink a glass of milk during the trophy presentation. I learned that little tidbit today from this display. Click on the photo to read the story behind the tradition . . .
We drove around the area a little more and passed under this sign, which is on the street just outside the race track. The track was built in 1909 . . .
Not being an avid car racing fan, I didn't know that it's a tradition for the Indy 500 winner to drink a glass of milk during the trophy presentation. I learned that little tidbit today from this display. Click on the photo to read the story behind the tradition . . .
We drove around the area a little more and passed under this sign, which is on the street just outside the race track. The track was built in 1909 . . .
And here's just a small sampling of the party atmosphere! People who live in the area surrounding the race track rent out parking spaces in their driveways and on their front lawns - it was crazy! Cars and RV's are parked everywhere, and every which way! People were out playing games, lighting BBQ's, drinking beer and having a grand old time!!!
If it's this crazy before the race, I can only imagine what it'll be like tomorrow . . .
Good to hear you finally had a "vacation" day :) I sure hope you don't have to walk from your hotel to the race track. I hope you had a fun time,
ReplyDeleteMissing ya,
Hugs,
me