INDY 500 2015

It's a whole different level of suck to go through qualifying, practice, and everything else just to start the Indy 500, then your car catches on fire heading to the green flag.

In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:

Thanks, my bad on the name.

It was an interesting race. The guys up front racing, those in the back crashing.

iceracer wrote: It was an interesting race. The guys up front racing, those in the back crashing.

LOL it is usually the other way around.

ncjay wrote: It's a whole different level of suck to go through qualifying, practice, and everything else just to start the Indy 500, then your car catches on fire heading to the green flag.

One of AJ Foyts cars also? Wouldn't want to be that crew chief.

i had the race on in the background while i was hosting a Memorial Day get together... seems like every time i looked at the tv it was under caution because someone's car hit the wall and spread carbon fiber chunks all over the track..

There were only 6 cautions in the 500 miles, so not really that many. Good, solid racing for the most part. JP really wanted it bad, too.

Last to 1st in 30 laps.

I've just returned from a great Indy weekend. Although the race was extremely entertaining, and the weather was perfect, as a long-time Indy-goer there was one thing that stood out from the rest.

The Indiana Law Enforcement professionals have saved the Indy 500.

The Saturday night street party that takes place on Georgetown Rd. had traditionally been a lot of fun. Within the last few years, however it was taken over by young thugs (of all races) that were only there to cause trouble, and instigate fights. Heck, a kid was shot and killed in the Coke (camping) lot last year. These punks weren't there for the races, they weren't even there to party. They were just looking for trouble. After going for 25 years in a row, we left last year with a bad taste in our mouths.

This year they fixed it!

The police were very visible, but never overbearing. They had a huge presence in the Coke Lot 1B this year....but they should. That's the area where all the crazy college kids light Port-O-Lets on fire, and cause general mayhem. It's all good fun, until someone dies.... and last year someone did. This year they had a massive presence in there, with spotlights, and a big command center. They also issued wrist-bands which you wouldn't think would keep the riffraff out....but it did.

We were in Coke lot 1a, which is traditionally pretty insane. This year it was only marginally so.... and a ton of fun. None of the nasty kid "hood rats" of the previous years. I wouldn't have thought it was possible, but they took on the problem, and fixed it. I know to most, this won't seem like a big deal--- but keep in mind that there may be a hundred thousand people camping in advance of this event. Losing that crowd would have killed a massive part of what makes the Indy 500 special.

It isn't said enough.....especially by me, but kudos to the cops, FBI, and other LEOs that saved this event. I'm not sure who is in charge over there, but they deserve a pat on the back, and a raise.

Cops have been getting a pretty bad rap lately, but the ones I know are decent people, with several being car guys. It's good to hear Indy is taking a stance in a positive way to keep the 500 safe AND enjoyable. The track is not exactly in the best part of town and I'm sure that doesn't help. And if you've never been to the 500, it's difficult to describe how many people are there. It's easily the biggest crowd I have ever seen in one place.

To put this into perspective, we flew to the last race I went to there and landed at the airport just a mile or two from the track. It took longer to get from the airport into the track (with a rental car), than it took to fly from North Alabama to Indy. The sheer amount of people getting in and out is amazing. And when the race was over, we got out of there quicker than the last time I went to Mid-Ohio.

I went to my first Indy500, lot of fun! Was right in front of the pits, right in front of 14 and 43. #43 was the car that caught fire before the first lap and he just sat there for the next 15 minutes looking so so sad

Next time I think I will camp out before

I am really hoping to take my Dad there one day. To bad it will be years before I can take that weekend off.

I finally got around to watching a bit I pvr'd,turned off by the commentator that boldly stated "these are the fastest race cars in the world".

Ugly sure,quick sure but fastest....not so much.

So what other cars lap a closed course in race conditions, in traffic, at around 220 mph?

Those last 30 laps or so were epic, and I don't use that word much. My reaction at the finish was, "Now THAT was a motor race!" No fuel savings, no green-white-checkered, just flat out driving to the finish. Wonderful.

In reply to Joe Gearin:

Back in the late 1980's I attended the crazy Saturday night party and I saw a dude sing Elton John's Saturday Nights Alright at a karaoke machine and he did a great job. I can still smell those frying onions from the food vendors.......

Jpm earned that drink of milk. Hats off to an impressive drive.

In reply to Jim Pettengill:

He didn't state specifics,just the general fastest race cars in the world crap.

Loads of "race cars" are faster,thats all I'm saying.

In reply to kevlarcorolla:

Except that their races last a few seconds, or they run by themselves.

There isn't a circut track race car that is faster, especially average speed per lap. For track racing with more than two cars, these are the fastest cars out there right now.

Yes, there are race-cars that go faster, for a short amount of time. However, keep in mind, these guys (and gals) are running over 220 mph AVERAGE LAP SPEEDS for 500 miles. Down the back straight, some hit 230+mph. They do this for over 3 hours continuously. F1 cars may touch 200+ for a short time--- but nothing like this.

Bag on it all you like---- and I understand Indycar and the Indy 500's faults and weaknesses--- but once you see it in person, you have no choice but to respect those who compete. The level of concentration these folks possess is massively impressive.

To see them dive into turn one--- 3 wide, at 225mph is mighty impressive. Talk about a "pucker corner! "

And when they crash, the violence and speed at which things happen reminds you that in a world of sanitized living and racing--- Indy is still a very serious undertaking--- those racers are dancing with the Grim Reaper on every one of those 200 laps. One bad step--- the Reaper wins.

The Indy 500 is one of those events that you have to attend to "get it". On T.V. it's just another race. In person, you can feel the past, hear the echoes of the dead, and you never forget that you are in a very special place. It's hallowed ground.

While I was watching this year's race, a friend of mine asked how the drivers quench their thirst while on the track. I mentioned that these days, I'm sure they had water bottles or something in the car. I then mentioned how Eddie Sachs used to wear a lemon around his neck during the race-- and he'd occasionally suck on it to relieve his dry mouth. We were sitting infield side--near the pit entrance. I then told my friend---- "Eddie died right there-- along with Bill MacDonald in 1964" The exact spot was maybe 50 yards from us.

Indy is like that--- the past is always present.

In reply to Joe Gearin:

You put I words what I have been trying to convey to others for years.

Thank you for writing that.

Many have a tube connected to there helmet from a water bottle.

So that they can take a sip when they want. Most likely during a caution.

Thanks----- It's a pretty special place for me and my friends. I've been attending since 1989, when we tagged along with my best buddy's Dad and his group of friends. Some of those guys had been attending since the 50's. Most of the people who attend go every year... and have been for decades. It's not about Indycar or Champ, or IRL. It's about that place and the history that lives inside.

kevlarcorolla wrote: In reply to Jim Pettengill: He didn't state specifics,just the general fastest race cars in the world crap. Loads of "race cars" are faster,thats all I'm saying.

ok … so you were just being pedantic …

You make it sound like I was saying the Indy 500 sucks,no idea how anyone reads that into what I actually said simply quoting a guy with a microphone in his hand and a camera in his face.

You'll argue for days wether autox is real racing but get butt hurt over this??

Moving on....I'll watch the last 30 laps later tonight.

Announcers say hyperbolic things like that all the time. It's part of them hyping whatever event they happen to be covering. And it happens in every sport. Hell, there's a website dedicated to the dumb stuff announcers say: http://awfulannouncing.com/