kitchtrips

Far
We’ve been traveling far
Without a home
But not without a star

Free
Only want to be free
We huddle close
Hang on to a dream
On the boats and on the planes
They’re coming to America
Never looking back again
They’re coming to America

– Neil Diamond

Friday 26 May, 2023

No chance for a walk this morning. We were up and about for the thirty-minute trip across to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Carb Day, the traditional final practice ahead of Sunday’s race. There is also a pit stop competition that earns the winning crew lots of cachet and also lots of money, and a concert – this year featuring iconic Canadian rocker Bryan Adams – in the infield.

It was a wild practice session that, at times, looked more like a race. Guys were taking a lot of risks as they sought to get their cars perfect for Sunday’s race. It was very exciting to watch, and the crowd of around 75,000 was thoroughly entertained. It’s amazing to be in what anywhere else would be hailed as an enormous crowd, but at Indianapolis, that number of people gets lost in the enormous grandstands and infield viewing mounds.

After practice finished, we went up to the Sid Collins Booth adjacent to the media centre on the front straight to hang out with friends from the IndyCar Radio Network, specifically the Voice of the Indianapolis 500 Mark Jaynes and turn one announcer Nick Yeoman. Fun to also chat with pit reporter Alex Wollf and turn four announcer (and also the TV voice of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers) Chris Denari about racing, sport and a whole lot of other random stuff as we watched the pit stop competition take place on the front straight beneath us. I’ll never take for granted how the guys on the network have been so amazing for so many years in a row, especially at the 500, which is undoubtedly one of the busiest times of their year.

Later in the afternoon we left the Speedway and, after a near-mandatory Starbucks stop, we drove up Crawfordsville Road for a few miles to Indianapolis Raceway Park, which has a drag strip where the US Nationals – the drag racing equivalent of the Indy 500 – are held each Labor Day weekend and also a short, moderately-banked oval.

On the oval was where the bottom two series on the Road to Indy ladder series – USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 – were racing (and some USAC Silver Crown midget cars as well). The cars are similar to IndyCars, though with less horsepower. Drivers who are good enough graduate through these two series’ and on to Indy Lights before joining the IndyCar Series. More than half the grid on Sunday is a graduate of this ladder system, so the proof is in the pudding.

I have a friend, Rob Howden, who is the series commentator for USF 2000 and USF Pro 2000 and he was kind enough to leave us some credentials at the gate, so we could enter the paddock area and take advantage of the shelter, snacks and drinks at the USF Pro Championships tent. He also introduced us to Lochie Hughes, a young Aussie from the Gold Coast, living in Indianapolis and racing in the USF 2000 series this year – leading the points at the moment, actually. We had a pretty good chat with Lochie, and it was weird to be talking about the suburb Penrith and State of Origin rugby league in Central Indiana. Not surprisingly, he is trying to emulate Will Power’s IndyCar Series exploits.

Unfortunately Lochie couldn’t get on the podium, finishing sixth after starting fifth for the Jay Howard Driver Development team, but remember the name. After the racing at IRP we drove out to Carmel, north of downtown Indianapolis, where Ryan’s parents, Bruce and Kim, live. We are staying the rest of the weekend in their RV, parked beside their house. It’s very comfortable, and there are lot of other folks from all over the world – England, the Netherlands and Ireland – staying here, also friends of Ryan’s from his work with Amazon, all in for their first Indianapolis 500. We’re going to have a fun weekend here.