Recent events and posts here have titled towards the negative side, which is both understandable and unfortunate. However, tomorrow I fly out to Indianapolis for my 7th Indy 500, and that means apprehension aside, it's time to get excited and remember why this race is so important to me and the hundreds of thousands that attend. I've always found it hard to express what it is about the Indy 500 that gets me in a way that nothing else does. After my friends and family, the Indy 500 is the thing I love most in the world. These are the some of the reasons why.
It's about watching practice online for 4 hours at work, followed by coming home and watching the last hour of practice.
It's about watching qualifying on a beautiful May weekend and not regretting it for a second.
It's about listening to the Trackside/Talk of Gasoline Alley doubleheader every day, either live or the next day podcast, and about learning something new from the incomparable Donald Davidson every time.
It's about watching the old Delta Force intros just to get pumped up.
It's about attending the Carb Night Burger Bash (I've been to all of them save 2011 and 2012) and being impressed on how it grows every year.
It's about watching the parade in all its Midwestern corniness.
It's about the Saturday night tradition I've made of eating my weight in meat at Fogo de Chao.
It's about the amazement of being able to bring your own cooler (with booze!) to the race.
It's about taking in the carnival atmosphere on Georgetown Road on race morning. It makes it clear from the get go of why the event is truly a spectacle.
It's about having a turkey leg and a tenderloin before 10 am, because why not? You've been up since 6 and barely slept the night before out of excitement anyway.
It's about entering the Speedway gates and feeling a chill go down your spine, overcome with awe at all those that came before.
It's about walking about the Speedway before finding your seat, just to take as much of it in as possible.
It's about the pagentry of the pre-race ceremonies, with its combination of reverence for the fallen and build-up to the command.
It's about cheering for every driver during introductions, no matter how well known or obscure they may be.
It's about Gomer Pyle singing an unofficial state song with everyone going crazy, a sentence that makes no sense anywhere except at the Indy 500, where it makes perfect sense. (and for this year, it's about assuming Straight No Chaser will do a great job)
It's about "Ladies and Gentlemen..." going from being a novelty to being expected and accepted. It's, of course, also about the command itself and the goosebumps it produces.
It's about the electricity of the arena during the pace laps, culminating in the crescendo of engines and cheers when the green flag drops.
It's about the ebb and flow of "500 miles on a Sunday afternoon in Indiana."
It's about 33 drivers with 33 individual stories of sacrifice to get there, knowing that only one will see their dreams come true.
It's about Johncock over Mears, Spin and Win, Big Al's fourth, Emmo vs. Junior, Mears on the outside, the closest finish ever, the Beast, Hornish over Marco, Helio climbing the fence, Wheldon winning in Cinderella fashion, finally putting TK's ugly face on that trophy, and Hunter-Reay clipping the grass.
It's about sticking around long enough to see the winner drink the milk, take their victory lap, and kiss the bricks.
It's seeing people that have been going for decades and hoping that someday that's me.
It's about getting back to the hotel in time to watch the rebroadcast, in order to get details missed while at the track.
It's about waking up Monday morning with the bittersweet feeling of knowing the next one isn't for another year.
Writing this list (and I could probably go on), to me I guess the Indy 500 is about a lot of small things rather than one big thing. However, those small things add up quickly to make up the reasons this race is so special to me. The only thing that makes it better is having someone with me to share it. This year I'm bringing a 500 rookie, and in future years I hope to take my little sister. I can only hope they end up seeing the race in some way like I do, even if just a little.
It's almost time to go racing. Here's to another unforgettable Indianapolis 500.
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