I got up about 8am, but by the time we left for the
track, it was already 10:30; we were going to
miss the Porsche race again. It was cold and
cloudy and the weathermen said we would have
scattered showers. They were right this time.
track, it was already 10:30; we were going to
miss the Porsche race again. It was cold and
cloudy and the weathermen said we would have
scattered showers. They were right this time.
I made a big mistake, parking in
the coke lot, off of 30th street.
They charged me $20 and made
me park all the way in the back.
E.T. and I had a big walk.
As we walked along Georgetown
Road, directly across the street from
the track, we saw $20 parking
available. Doh!
the coke lot, off of 30th street.
They charged me $20 and made
me park all the way in the back.
E.T. and I had a big walk.
As we walked along Georgetown
Road, directly across the street from
the track, we saw $20 parking
available. Doh!
| Formula One U.S. Grand Prix Sunday - September 28, 2003 |
I finally found a Renault hat in the souvenir stands
that line the road, but it was $25 and the "Mild
Seven" was blacked out. I found some shirts too,
but they were too expensive ($80-$225).
that line the road, but it was $25 and the "Mild
Seven" was blacked out. I found some shirts too,
but they were too expensive ($80-$225).
We made our way up to our seats in the first
row of the Paddock Penthouse. The grid girls
marched down the track, holding up flags of
the drivers' countries. Behind them were
people with American flags and flags making
a large checkered flag. The Purdue band
played out on the track. Some Jazz musicians
played for a while from the award pedestal. The
Indianapolis Children's Choir sang "America".
row of the Paddock Penthouse. The grid girls
marched down the track, holding up flags of
the drivers' countries. Behind them were
people with American flags and flags making
a large checkered flag. The Purdue band
played out on the track. Some Jazz musicians
played for a while from the award pedestal. The
Indianapolis Children's Choir sang "America".
I was sitting across from the pits.
Soon the pit crews brought out tires
and gear. As the time for the start
neared, we suddenly began to get
hailed on!! Everyone was amazed.
It stopped after a few minutes, then
we got a little rain.
and gear. As the time for the start
neared, we suddenly began to get
hailed on!! Everyone was amazed.
It stopped after a few minutes, then
we got a little rain.
Then the drivers began to arrive on the grid.
After Michael arrived on the grid,
he got out of his car took off his
helmet and waved to the fans.
he got out of his car took off his
helmet and waved to the fans.
The track conditions changed a lot on
this cold 55 degree day. We had
sprinkles, and rain. The sun came out
and we had a dry track. It made for an
interesting race!
this cold 55 degree day. We had
sprinkles, and rain. The sun came out
and we had a dry track. It made for an
interesting race!
Michael leaving the pits.
After Michael Schumacher won the race, he gave this victory salute.
What an awesome race!!
The Ferrari fans rushed the fence.
Victory Celebration!
After the race was over, the pit crews
began to break things down quickly.
The cars who had stopped on the
course, were brought back to the pits.
began to break things down quickly.
The cars who had stopped on the
course, were brought back to the pits.
While Indycars are towed back to
the pits, the Formula One cars are
hoisted and placed on a flat bed trailer.
the pits, the Formula One cars are
hoisted and placed on a flat bed trailer.
Ferrari tried to cover up their car to prevent
the prying eyes of the competition of getting
any more looks at their car!
the prying eyes of the competition of getting
any more looks at their car!
Soon after the race ended, it began to rain
pretty hard. E.T. and I stuck under the Pent-
house roof waiting for it to end. Some yellow
shirt official herded us down to the end and
out, by which time it had stopped raining.
pretty hard. E.T. and I stuck under the Pent-
house roof waiting for it to end. Some yellow
shirt official herded us down to the end and
out, by which time it had stopped raining.
On the way out to the car, we came across
some guys who were grilling and watching
the Nascar race on a tv in the back of their
SUV. We stopped and watched with them.
We saw a pretty amazing crash, where Elliot
Sadler got air under the front of his car and
he went sailing into the air, flipping and
crashing. I guess he was ok. The guys shared
their food with us which was cool.
some guys who were grilling and watching
the Nascar race on a tv in the back of their
SUV. We stopped and watched with them.
We saw a pretty amazing crash, where Elliot
Sadler got air under the front of his car and
he went sailing into the air, flipping and
crashing. I guess he was ok. The guys shared
their food with us which was cool.
| Dan's Race Journals |
| DAN'S PHOTO JOURNALS |