Contact About Site Map Privacy Copyright © 2011 IndySpeedway.com All Rights Reserved
| Indianapolis 500 Mile Race May 29, 2011 |
Usually, I go to the track really late on race day. But
today I had a pit and garage pass, so I wanted to get
there early.
But I awoke late, had a lot of things to get done and
then my dog Ringo got really sick. Why is it my dogs
only get sick on race day???
ET meanwhile was going crazy thinking we were
going to miss the entire show.
The TV showed all this mud in the coke lot and I
decided against taking the Vette.
We finally departed after 11 am.
I decided to take a different path today. I went east
to I-65, then north to 30th Street.
I encountered zero traffic!
I tried pulling into the North 40, but was stopped
and ordered to turn around. I ended up parking
right across the street for $25.
After I got out of the car, the stealth bomber flew
overhead! Far out!
today I had a pit and garage pass, so I wanted to get
there early.
But I awoke late, had a lot of things to get done and
then my dog Ringo got really sick. Why is it my dogs
only get sick on race day???
ET meanwhile was going crazy thinking we were
going to miss the entire show.
The TV showed all this mud in the coke lot and I
decided against taking the Vette.
We finally departed after 11 am.
I decided to take a different path today. I went east
to I-65, then north to 30th Street.
I encountered zero traffic!
I tried pulling into the North 40, but was stopped
and ordered to turn around. I ended up parking
right across the street for $25.
After I got out of the car, the stealth bomber flew
overhead! Far out!
As we walked the half-mile to the track, we could hear the various
songs leading up to the start and saw the balloon release.
We entered the first stands we came to - the North Vista. We
climbed up a few rows and saw the last parade lap and the start!
Today I brought a cooler of beer, my good camera, and a seat
cushion.
songs leading up to the start and saw the balloon release.
We entered the first stands we came to - the North Vista. We
climbed up a few rows and saw the last parade lap and the start!
Today I brought a cooler of beer, my good camera, and a seat
cushion.
After the first caution, we headed over to our NW Vista
Deck seats, section 13, row A.
I was concerned that the weather was going to be a
scorcher today. However, it turned out great with this
big wind so that I never got hot at all!
The race was pretty uneventful with very few caution
periods.
Danica Patrick lead some laps.
Deck seats, section 13, row A.
I was concerned that the weather was going to be a
scorcher today. However, it turned out great with this
big wind so that I never got hot at all!
The race was pretty uneventful with very few caution
periods.
Danica Patrick lead some laps.
VIEWS FROM THE NORTH VISTA
The end was quite memorable, which was fortunate as this
was the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500, whose first race
was in May of 1911.
A rookie, JR Hildebrand was leading the race with Ganassi
drivers Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti right behind him.
Both Ganassi cars ran out of gas! (Penske cars didn't even
figure into it today.)
There was a world record jump before the race, which I missed.
You can see the vehicle that was used at the bottom of the ramp.
It was a successful jump, piloted by Tanner Faust.
You can see the vehicle that was used at the bottom of the ramp.
It was a successful jump, piloted by Tanner Faust.
A panarama from NW Vista Section 13
| Ed Carpenter |
| Bertand Baguette |
| Helio Castroneves |
| Ana Beatriz |
| JR Hildebrand The Rookie that almost won it |
| Danica Patrick |
| John Andretti |
| Tony Kanaan |
The Winning Car - Dan Wheldon
Above and below - The "Side by Side" Restart
| Scott Dixon |
| Dario Franchitti |
| Davey Hamilton |
| Vitor Meira |
As JR zoomed around the track, hoping his
gas held out, he came upon the slower car
of Charlie Kimball in the last turn. He knew
that Dan Wheldon was charging up behind
him. He chose to try to pass Kimball and in
doing so, he slammed into the wall at the
exit of Turn 4.
gas held out, he came upon the slower car
of Charlie Kimball in the last turn. He knew
that Dan Wheldon was charging up behind
him. He chose to try to pass Kimball and in
doing so, he slammed into the wall at the
exit of Turn 4.
As usual, we hung out for a long time after the race was over.
Young people came around and collected the rented seat
cushions.
A guy with quite a bit of guts (or not much sense) came by us
as he was taking down the flags. For the flag that was by the
steps up to the deck, he had to climb up the step fence and
then stretch far to the outer fence and pulled himself up to
take down the flag. I figure that flag is worth about $10 and
if he'd have slipped backward, he'd likely have broken his
neck, and if he'd slipped forward, he would surely have died.
He should have been tethered.
Young people came around and collected the rented seat
cushions.
A guy with quite a bit of guts (or not much sense) came by us
as he was taking down the flags. For the flag that was by the
steps up to the deck, he had to climb up the step fence and
then stretch far to the outer fence and pulled himself up to
take down the flag. I figure that flag is worth about $10 and
if he'd have slipped backward, he'd likely have broken his
neck, and if he'd slipped forward, he would surely have died.
He should have been tethered.
| JR Hildebrand slammed into wall in last turn and begins slide down front straight. (Charlie Kimball, a lap down, is nearby) |
As Hildebrand slides, you can see Dan Wheldon coming up fast from behind.
Wheldon, even closer now, passes Hildebrand
before the finish line to win his 2nd Indy 500
before the finish line to win his 2nd Indy 500
| DAN WHELDON WON! |
| The Party Is Over |
We slowly made our way out to 30th street and my car.
We dropped the top and slowly made our way down 30th Street.
ET popped in a heavy metal CD.
Once I was on I-65, the traffic was normal.
I had almost made it to 465 when a cop came up on me really
fast. I was in the fast lane going over 80. I thought I was
busted, but I moved over and he shot by me. Whew!
He must have been doing 90 or 100.
Back home, we watched the Monaco F1 race that I had
recorded from this morning. Sebastian Vettel won it for
Red Bull.
Looking Left at Turn 3
Looking Right at Turn 4
Looking straight ahead ... Big ass ramp
Looking toward Turn 4
Looking toward turn 3
North Short Chute
Turns 3 & 4
North Short Chute
Front Straight
| Buddy Rice |
| Alex Lloyd |
I sat next to a cool guy from South Carolina. This was his
1st Indy 500. Wow, what great seats to get on your first
trip to Indy. In my 30+ years of coming to the race, this is
the first time I have had deck seats.
(Deck seats are a two-row raised set of bleachers above
certain corner grandstands.)
I didn't have anyone standing in my way - an unobstructed
view!
1st Indy 500. Wow, what great seats to get on your first
trip to Indy. In my 30+ years of coming to the race, this is
the first time I have had deck seats.
(Deck seats are a two-row raised set of bleachers above
certain corner grandstands.)
I didn't have anyone standing in my way - an unobstructed
view!
<----- The Deck
| No Fear |
There was also a fly-over after the race ended.
| DAN'S PHOTO JOURNALS |
| Dan's Race Journals |