On Sunday afternoon I did something I have always wanted to do. I went to an Indy Car race. Now, stop all the snickering and rolling of the eyes. (Billfer, I didn't even mention soccer, so keep reading.) As a youngster, the only racing anyone cared about in America was held in Indianapolis on Memorial Weekend. When people thought auto racing they thought the Indy 500 and nothing else.
I watched Indy back in my childhood when the kings of the sport reigned-A.J. Foyt, Bobby and Al Unser, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, et al. Since then, I have always wanted to see cars circle the track at speeds over 200mph. Just once, I wanted to see what that was like. It wasn't amongst my top ten sporting events to partake of, but it did make my list of things to do.
Amazingly enough, I got free tickets to Sundays' Firestone 400 from someone at work. My opportunity presented itself and, best of all, it was going to be a freebie. No need to invest any big time capital into an event that was as much curiosity as anything else. I could attend, be totally disappointed and not out much cash. How could I resist?
The doors opened to the public at 9:00 am. The race was slated to begin around 3:00 pm. Stinking made-for-tv start time. Anyway, there was no way I could see myself sitting around from nine in the morning until late afternoon waiting for a race, so my friend and I left for Michigan International Speedway around noon.
We arrived around 1:30 pm. We were greeted by free parking, a nice bonus, and quite a few racing fans already well into a tailgating session. (I'll let you fill in the blanks.) There was a Silverdome-esque walk up to the track. Around the structure, the teams, sponsors and the Indy Racing League had set-up a carnival-like event. There were race simulators, souvenir trailers for each team, sponsors had their own areas as did the Indy Racing League itself. All-in-all it was much like a fanfest at any other sporting event.
So far, neither of us had been scared off. In fact, the track volunteers/employees were very cordial. We headed for our seats. There seemed like about ten flights of stairs up and we ended up only about the same number of rows from the Uecker row. We were not only high up, but at an uncomfortably steep angle to the track. Think top row, Pontiac Silverdome. Needless to say, it was a bit unsettling.
The crowd was rather sparse. Maybe half the primary grandstand was occupied. I read attendance figures this morning that pegged the total crowd at around 35,000-40,000. In contrast, a NASCAR race brings in over 100,000 to MIS.
After a prolonged, and I mean prolonged, pre-race show, there was an airshow, but I didn't come for planes, the race began. Let me make this very, very clear. Watching that first lap with these incredibly expensive cars circle the track at 200 mph was one of the most incredible things I have seen in sports. I kid you not.
It was just plain unbelievable. They went past so fast, that it was nearly impossible to tell who was in what position. Oh, and the noise! My ears are still ringing. (Note to all, including me: Go to Indy Car race, bring or buy earplugs.) These little machines, the ones that seem to be just gliding along on television, are moving so fast that both my friend and I got just a tad queasy due to the speed, noise and our position relative to them.
It does get very challenging to figure out where every car stands as the laps mount. The pit stops and natural separation of the good cars from the bad make it a real hodge-podge on the track. There are top five and top ten boards on the infield, but finding the drivers amidst the high speeds can be hard. At least for this newbie it was. Maybe experience would help. So would a radio.
They do broadcast the race at the track, but I do wonder why? There ain't no way anyone can hear it above the thunder of all those engines.
Bryan Herta had the best car in qualifying on Saturday and all day long Sunday. The race ended up tight, but Herta and his team deserved a win yesterday. I'm a rookie and even I know that.
Overall, the race was about what I had expected it to be. The cars were unimaginably fast and I felt the trip was well worth the time spent. I would not classify myself as an Indy Car Series junkie, we left early and listened as much to the Tigers on the radio as the race, but I have a greater appreciation for what I see on television. I guess, basically, that means you can add Indy Car to the sports I am a casual fan of.
I'll warn you now, I will probably champion the IRL's cause in this space every once in a while because: 1) It's an underdog, even in auto racing. 2) It's a more legitimate sport than half the things the sports cable stations are showing. 3) I enjoyed my brief exposure to it.
Now, before many of you think I am nuttier than you even suspected, let me clear up a several things. I did not go to watch current media darling and IRL driver, Danica Patrick. I don't root against Patrick, but my interest in her sport pre-dates her birth.
Auto racing is not going to replace baseball, football or basketball on my sports hierarchy. It's going to have a tough time getting past hockey and golf, too. I'm not sure if it can unseat, soccer. Probably not.
I have no desire to watch NASCAR and even less desire to see one of their events in person. Having Chevys, Pontiacs, Fords and Chryslers zip past at me at mind boggling speeds is part of my daily travels, not something I would pay to watch. Nor do I think sitting crammed with 100,000 folks at MIS is something I would enjoy.
Yes, I have all the same pre-conceived stereotypes about auto racin' fans that 99% of you do. They are, of course, unfair and partially spot on. No need to dig up that kind of unnecessary banter here, but suffice to say at the concessions stands you could choose between hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, various beverages and cigarettes. Yes, cigarettes. My advice? Don't lose your smokes before the race. They are $8 a pack at the track. (Lived up to all your stereotypes, didn't it?)
And, yeah, I kind of like Formula One, too. It's the same thing to me, but I'm sure the F1 diehards will tell me how stupid I am. Like that's news.
I apologize to the Marx Brothers for stealing the title of one of their movies for my title for this post. I love Marx Brothers movies, by the way.
Here is a link to the Indy Racing League's site. Yes, it may end up in my sidebar, but not this second.
If you have any interest in Indy Car Racing, and you probably don't, but if you do, go to a race.
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