| July 1, 2006 - Formula One Qualifying |
We had planned to show up bright and early to the Speedway on Thursday - a chance to get an
autograph and listen to driver interviews. I had a late night and E.T. went to a concert in Detroit
and drove through the night to Indy. Instead of going, we spent the day sleeping and watching
Deadwood.
autograph and listen to driver interviews. I had a late night and E.T. went to a concert in Detroit
and drove through the night to Indy. Instead of going, we spent the day sleeping and watching
Deadwood.
On the left photo above, the structure in the background is the Indiana World War Memorial. It is
free to enter. E.T. and I walked all through it and I recommend you stop in and see it. There is
also a museum in the basement which covers US wars from the revolution to the present.
After ward we continued north into the Veterans Memorial Plaza which had this cool granite obelisk
and fountain.
There are a lot of nice buildings, statues, parks and memorials in this area.
However, our 2-hour parking window was closing fast, so we broke off the tour and returned to the
car. We were 1 minute late. I saw the short meter maid walking away from my car after sticking a
$20 ticket on my windshield. She must have begun writing it a minute before it expired.
Why is it that the government is only diligent when they are taking your money?
free to enter. E.T. and I walked all through it and I recommend you stop in and see it. There is
also a museum in the basement which covers US wars from the revolution to the present.
After ward we continued north into the Veterans Memorial Plaza which had this cool granite obelisk
and fountain.
There are a lot of nice buildings, statues, parks and memorials in this area.
However, our 2-hour parking window was closing fast, so we broke off the tour and returned to the
car. We were 1 minute late. I saw the short meter maid walking away from my car after sticking a
$20 ticket on my windshield. She must have begun writing it a minute before it expired.
Why is it that the government is only diligent when they are taking your money?
We finally went to the Speedway to see qualifying on Saturday. The crowd was huge! Bigger than
every day in May except race day. We arrived around noon and found both the 16th Street entrance
and Georgetown Rd entrance closed to traffic.
I wanted to park for free, so I drove around to the 30th St entrance. While many people were already
parked in the North 40, they let us park in the infield! The 3rd Turn lot was packed. I had hoped to
watch Qualifying from the SE Vista, but by the time we got parked, it was too late to make it, so we
watched most of the qualifying from the infield.
every day in May except race day. We arrived around noon and found both the 16th Street entrance
and Georgetown Rd entrance closed to traffic.
I wanted to park for free, so I drove around to the 30th St entrance. While many people were already
parked in the North 40, they let us park in the infield! The 3rd Turn lot was packed. I had hoped to
watch Qualifying from the SE Vista, but by the time we got parked, it was too late to make it, so we
watched most of the qualifying from the infield.
| Turn 4 |
| Turn 6 |
From the infield, with no TV monitors, we
couldn't tell what was happening, so we
moved to the Tower Terrace to watch the
end of qualifying.
The two Ferraris captured the front row of
the grid.
couldn't tell what was happening, so we
moved to the Tower Terrace to watch the
end of qualifying.
The two Ferraris captured the front row of
the grid.
After F1 qualifying ended, we walked
over to see the Formula BMW cars.
over to see the Formula BMW cars.
East of the Speedway Museum is a parking lot where all the F1 teams setup trailers to sell
expensive team-wear. A buttom down short-sleeved shirt at the Renault shop was $150.
F1 hats sold from $35 to $50, however at the Mercedes booth I was able to buy a very cool
hat for $15. It is shiny like the McLaren F1 car and says "Kimi" on the side.
There are food stands behind the Turn 10 Terrace. I paid $7 for a small ribeye sandwich.
During all of that, there was an Indy Pro Series race.
After I ate, we watched the Porsche Supercup race.
expensive team-wear. A buttom down short-sleeved shirt at the Renault shop was $150.
F1 hats sold from $35 to $50, however at the Mercedes booth I was able to buy a very cool
hat for $15. It is shiny like the McLaren F1 car and says "Kimi" on the side.
There are food stands behind the Turn 10 Terrace. I paid $7 for a small ribeye sandwich.
During all of that, there was an Indy Pro Series race.
After I ate, we watched the Porsche Supercup race.
| View from the 10 Turn Terrace |
CAR SHOW PHOTOS from Downtown Indianapolis (Featured makes: Jaguar & Porsche)
The Porsche race was the last event of the day. Afterwards, we hiked back to our car.
It had been a very hot sunny day and we were tired. But after sitting in my car with the
A/C on, we were revived enough to go downtown to see a car show.
It had been a very hot sunny day and we were tired. But after sitting in my car with the
A/C on, we were revived enough to go downtown to see a car show.
| Dan's Race Journals |
| DAN'S PHOTO JOURNALS |
| The Back Straight |
| SATURDAY |
Friday, E.T. wanted to eat downtown at Le Peeps. I drove and parked on an uncrowded street,
filling the parking meter to it's two hour limit. After eating some delicious Eggs Benedict, we
walked over to University Park where there are old bronze statues as well as this cool fountain.
filling the parking meter to it's two hour limit. After eating some delicious Eggs Benedict, we
walked over to University Park where there are old bronze statues as well as this cool fountain.
| FRIDAY |