Back home again in Indiana
And it seems that I can see
The gleaming candlelight
Still burning bright
Through the sycamores for me
The new-mown hay sends all its fragrance
Through the fields I used to roam
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash
How I long for my Indiana home
– Louis Armstrong
Sunday 28 May, 2023
Race day at the Indianapolis 500. Thirty-three drivers woke up this morning certain that they would be the one to drive into victory lane – not to mention into racing immortality – at the end of two hundred laps this afternoon. Rising above multiple crashes and some red flag stoppages, Tennessee’s Josef Newgarden became the first American to win the 500 since Alexander Rossi in 2016, and gave car owner Roger Penske an incredible nineteenth Indianapolis 500 win.
Back to the beginning, however. We were out the door at 7:30am sharp, met some other people in our group at an art museum close to the track, and we drove on as far as we could. Bruce Myrehn (our de factor tour guide) said that as soon as people are walking faster than they are driving, it’s time to bail out, find a park and walk the rest of the way. Our motley crew of Aussies, English, Dutch and American race fans probably had about a mile and a half to walk before we reached the track entrance between turns 3 and 4.
Almost immediately, some of us set out for the infield to deliver something to Ryan. Whilst on that mission, we saw the Borg Warner Trophy (which the winner is awarded) being rolled past, and the Gordon Pipers getting ready for their annual performance. We were also close by the Snakepit, an EDM concert taking place inside turn 3, so there was…well, let’s just say that the people watching was plentiful and I saw a few things – more than a few, perhaps – that I honestly wish I could unsee.
Whilst we were at the track some four hours before the green flag, the pre-race time went very quickly, as there is always stuff going on. Watching the enormous bleachers that stretch from the entrance to turn 3 all the way around the top of the track to turn 4 fill up slowly but surely really is something to see.
Prior to the pre-race ceremonies, I went over to visit with IndyCar Radio’s Jake Query, who calls the action from turn 3 (Mark Jaynes is the chief announcer situated on the front straight, and there are four turn announcers calling the action alongside him) which requires going up a fairly sketchy ladder from the top of the grandstand up to a little box that, whilst offering a spectacular view all the way down the back straight, is a little precariously situated. Talk about a bird’s eye view. Got to meet Jake’s Australian friend Michael, a Carlton supporter from Melbourne. I wasted no time reminding him that the Swans had taken down the Blues earlier in the weekend.
Very soon, pre-race – taps, the national anthem (sung by Jewel), the flyover, Jim Cornelison singing ‘Back Home Again in Indiana’ – was over and actor Adam Driver of Star Wars fame was throwing the green flag. The first lap is something to see, as they rocket towards us at upwards of 240mph, bunched up from the start.
The race was clean and green for nearly 100 laps, but things went kind of crazy after that. We saw collisions in the pits, cars upside down – most of the world has probably seen the footage of Kyle Kirkwood’s wild ride, where a tyre left his car and flew over into the crowd on the inside of turn 2, thankfully only hitting a parked car; everyone was safe and well – and some audacious passes for the lead that were equal parts thrilling and terrifying.
In the end, Newgarden was the winner, passing Marcus Ericsson, the defending champion, on the final lap, right in front of us, and ran into the crowd through a gate in the catch fence on the front straight to celebrate. There was some controversy about restarts, though I won’t get into that here. Suffice to say, despite some interesting officiating decisions, it was a finish befitting one of the more dramatic Indianapolis 500 mile races we have ever seen. Post-race, we listened to Ryan interviewing a very relieved Josef Newgarden, who won the race in his twelfth attempt.
We were out of the track and home inside about ninety minutes, and we spent most of the evening downloading and debriefing amongst the group who had been at the race with us, and also with Ryan when he got back from a long day.
The best 500 week ever. The Myrehn family are amazing, and I couldn’t possibly thank them enough for everything they’ve done for us this week.
Brunch tomorrow, then up to Chicago.
kitchtrips 