Qualifying got rained out yesterday, so today would be Pole Day. It was a overcast cool day and windy as hell!

Jeff was going to go with me today. He showed up with his girlfriend and they wanted to drive separate. The infield parking was closed today due to the heavy rain yesterday. Jeff followed me onto Georgetown Road, but as I turned into a lot to park, he missed the turn and I never saw them again the rest of the day. HELPFUL HINT TIME: If driving separate, have a meeting spot selected before you arrive.

I began by sitting in Stand E. I think box 13 is the middle of the best viewing area there, although anywhere in E is pretty nice.

Have you noticed that from the south or north, the Bombardier race control tower looks rectangular like the last tower, but from the east or west it looks like a pagoda like the really old tower?

The storm clouds really moved in, but miraculously the rain never came.

I walked all along the SW Vista. From these stands you can't see the straights.

I walked over to turn 2. Stand G was closed. I walked all along the top of the SE Vista. That stand begins at section 17, not 1. Sections 20-30 are the best seats in these stands. Since it only goes up to 37 or so, most seats in these stands are superb. Of course the higher you are the better.

I made my way up to the upper deck. The wind was so strong up there it about blew me over. It brought back memories of Hawaii and the wind that hit me in the face when I cleared a mountain peak by the ocean. They said the wind was gusting today at 55 mph on the track, so it must have really been whipping up there in the deck.

The wind only caused Scott Sharp to wipe out and hit the wall. The IRL are really running fast speeds this year. Combined with this clean track and cool temperatures, its amazing that the drivers, especially the rookies, were able to keep it together. Helio Castroneves captured the pole today at around 231 mph average 4 lap average. 24 cars got in today.

I think the coolest thing I saw was when AJ did a 180 spin and brought the car all the way to a stop going backwards, all the while keeping it off the walls. Good job Anthony!