| DAN'S PHOTO JOURNALS |
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| INDY 500 OPENING DAY Sunday, May 6, 2001 |
Today was beautiful! It was sunny and warm and we had a slight breeze all day long under clear skies.
I parked in the Turn 3 Infield and took the first batch of theese photos along the viewing hill inside Turn 3.
I parked in the Turn 3 Infield and took the first batch of theese photos along the viewing hill inside Turn 3.
Sam Hornish, Jr.
Panther Racing
No. 4 Pennzoil
Dallara Oldsmobile
Panther Racing
No. 4 Pennzoil
Dallara Oldsmobile
Indiana is pretty flat and little
kids always like rolling down
the viewing hills.
kids always like rolling down
the viewing hills.
This concession stand in T3
was only open on busy days.
The Porsche Boxter was
introduced in late 1996.
was only open on busy days.
The Porsche Boxter was
introduced in late 1996.
Didier André'
No 32. G-Force Oldsmobile
Galles Racing
(He would fail to qualify for
the race, along with seven
other drivers.)
No 32. G-Force Oldsmobile
Galles Racing
(He would fail to qualify for
the race, along with seven
other drivers.)
After an hour, I trekked to Gasoline Alley to hang out and watch the cars
and race teams go back and forth from the track to the garages.
and race teams go back and forth from the track to the garages.
Tony George, president of the speedway, stops to talk to some Alley Cats -
fans who hang out all day every day on Gasoline Alley.
I think the black guy is his body guard, I see him with him all the time.
Then he walked over to where I was and hopped on a little scooter and took off.
One thing you will find is that there is lots of walking involved in going to the track.
There are some tractor pulled carts that go around in a loop from the tower terrace
to the various parking spots, but it seems you have to wait forever, they're full, etc.
You will see lots of staff and race teams zipping around on scooters and in golf carts.
I wish I could have one.
fans who hang out all day every day on Gasoline Alley.
I think the black guy is his body guard, I see him with him all the time.
Then he walked over to where I was and hopped on a little scooter and took off.
One thing you will find is that there is lots of walking involved in going to the track.
There are some tractor pulled carts that go around in a loop from the tower terrace
to the various parking spots, but it seems you have to wait forever, they're full, etc.
You will see lots of staff and race teams zipping around on scooters and in golf carts.
I wish I could have one.
Sarah walking through Gasoline Alley.
I hope they take that phone away from her before she gets in her car!
I hope they take that phone away from her before she gets in her car!
Although I was very alert while hanging out at Gasoline Alley, Al Unser, Sr; Buddy Lazier,
Johnny Rutherford, and Casey Mears all got by me before I could get a picture.
Johnny Rutherford, and Casey Mears all got by me before I could get a picture.
Buddy Lazier
No. 91 Dallara Oldsmobile
Hemelgarn Racing
No. 91 Dallara Oldsmobile
Hemelgarn Racing
IMS has erected a new flag tower.
I think it looks like a cat-bird seat from
some big sailing ship. It looks to be 30
feet up in the air.
I think it looks like a cat-bird seat from
some big sailing ship. It looks to be 30
feet up in the air.
They have extended the viewing
hill on the back stretch, all the
way down and around the 3rd
Turn! They've got 200 feet left
that still needs grass.
hill on the back stretch, all the
way down and around the 3rd
Turn! They've got 200 feet left
that still needs grass.
The sweet spot to sit in a turn
can be determined by where the
camera is. The middle camera
stand in this photo shows the
sweet spot in the North East
Vista is Section 12.
can be determined by where the
camera is. The middle camera
stand in this photo shows the
sweet spot in the North East
Vista is Section 12.
I REALLY screwed up and forgot to go to the bank machine on the way to the track.
The concession stands didn't accept credit cards.
I also did not take a cooler or any drinks or food!
There were no water fountains that I could find in the infield.
I had a few sticks of gum that got me through the day.
I found $3 and the only drink you can get in the track for that is a small coke for $2.50.
I waited till 3 pm before I bought an icy Pepsi. I was so thirsty, it tasted great!
I enventually headed over to Turn 2 and found Mika Hakkinen's Formula 1 car on display.
He drives for West McLaren Mercedes. I like their livery and so I've been happy that
Eddie Cheever copied it.
The concession stands didn't accept credit cards.
I also did not take a cooler or any drinks or food!
There were no water fountains that I could find in the infield.
I had a few sticks of gum that got me through the day.
I found $3 and the only drink you can get in the track for that is a small coke for $2.50.
I waited till 3 pm before I bought an icy Pepsi. I was so thirsty, it tasted great!
I enventually headed over to Turn 2 and found Mika Hakkinen's Formula 1 car on display.
He drives for West McLaren Mercedes. I like their livery and so I've been happy that
Eddie Cheever copied it.
Davey Hamilton
No. 99 Dallara Oldsmobile
Sam Schmidt Motorsports
No. 99 Dallara Oldsmobile
Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Robby Gordon
AJ Foyt Enterprises
No. 41 Dallara Oldsmobile
(He would qualify on the
front row)
AJ Foyt Enterprises
No. 41 Dallara Oldsmobile
(He would qualify on the
front row)
Scott Sharp on his way to
the track.
(He would qualify on pole!)
the track.
(He would qualify on pole!)
There were more people at Opening Day than usual.
Stéphan Grégoire
No. 36 G-Force Oldsmobile
Heritage Motorsports
No. 36 G-Force Oldsmobile
Heritage Motorsports
Jeff Ward
No. 35 G-Force Infiniti
Heritage Motorsports
No. 35 G-Force Infiniti
Heritage Motorsports
Robbie Buhl
No. 24 G-Force Infiniti
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
No. 24 G-Force Infiniti
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Usually after the ceremonies, all
the 500 princesses make a lap in
the pace cars. However this year,
the four Indy 500 winners in this
year's race (Buddy Lazier, Eddie
Cheever, Al Unser, Jr. and Arie
Luyendyk) took a slow side-by-
side lap.
the 500 princesses make a lap in
the pace cars. However this year,
the four Indy 500 winners in this
year's race (Buddy Lazier, Eddie
Cheever, Al Unser, Jr. and Arie
Luyendyk) took a slow side-by-
side lap.
Then, Lynn St James, who announced her retirement yesterday,
was given the opportunity to make a few laps for old times sake.
[I heard later that Foyt was pissed that she got to do this. Why?
Because he got to do it too - but wanted to be the only one. Ha!]
Then at 1:15, practice was open.
was given the opportunity to make a few laps for old times sake.
[I heard later that Foyt was pissed that she got to do this. Why?
Because he got to do it too - but wanted to be the only one. Ha!]
Then at 1:15, practice was open.
This temporary structure they were building over in T2 by the
museum will likely be a big tent for displays or something.
museum will likely be a big tent for displays or something.
CHARITY EVENT
Once I got home, I uploaded these photos and started doing yard work and mowed the grass.
I shouldn't have done that because I paid $100 to attend an event tonight that started at 6pm.
By the time I got cleaned up, I didn't arrive until 9:30pm and missed most of it.
It was a charity auction for paralysis research, held at Morton's Steakhouse downtown,
hosted by Sam Schmidt.
A thunderstorm rolled through before I got there.
They had the red carpet rolled out and a motorcycle and go-kart on display outside the door.
Those were some of the items that were being auctioned off tonight.
The chopper was cool - a Titan donated by Tony George.
It's twin was given to Juan Pablo Montoya for winning the Indy 500 last year.
Inside, there were some autographed racers stuff, like helmets and gloves, tickets, and some
donations by baseball and basketball stars like a basketball signed by Koby and Shaq.
The food was mostly gone as were most of the people I suppose.
I did get a few tasty things to eat though and had a couple of drinks.
I saw Arie Luynendyk, Scott Sharp, Robbie Buhl, Billy Boat, Robbie McGehee and Jeff Ward.
Sam Schmidt was still there of course. He looked really well and in high-spirits.
I am not sure how much they raised in the silent auction, but Fred Treadway won the chopper
for $35,000 and Rob Sabatini won the go-kart for $4,600.
I heard Sam's foundation had raised $750,000 before tonight's affair.
Jack Arute served as master of ceremonies, but I missed him.
I got home at 11:30pm.
Once I got home, I uploaded these photos and started doing yard work and mowed the grass.
I shouldn't have done that because I paid $100 to attend an event tonight that started at 6pm.
By the time I got cleaned up, I didn't arrive until 9:30pm and missed most of it.
It was a charity auction for paralysis research, held at Morton's Steakhouse downtown,
hosted by Sam Schmidt.
A thunderstorm rolled through before I got there.
They had the red carpet rolled out and a motorcycle and go-kart on display outside the door.
Those were some of the items that were being auctioned off tonight.
The chopper was cool - a Titan donated by Tony George.
It's twin was given to Juan Pablo Montoya for winning the Indy 500 last year.
Inside, there were some autographed racers stuff, like helmets and gloves, tickets, and some
donations by baseball and basketball stars like a basketball signed by Koby and Shaq.
The food was mostly gone as were most of the people I suppose.
I did get a few tasty things to eat though and had a couple of drinks.
I saw Arie Luynendyk, Scott Sharp, Robbie Buhl, Billy Boat, Robbie McGehee and Jeff Ward.
Sam Schmidt was still there of course. He looked really well and in high-spirits.
I am not sure how much they raised in the silent auction, but Fred Treadway won the chopper
for $35,000 and Rob Sabatini won the go-kart for $4,600.
I heard Sam's foundation had raised $750,000 before tonight's affair.
Jack Arute served as master of ceremonies, but I missed him.
I got home at 11:30pm.
| Eddie Cheever's Indy Car |
