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| DAN'S PHOTO JOURNALS |
| Fast Friday Practice - Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Friday, May 20, 2022 |
The day’s forecast was partly cloudy and breezy
with a high of 86°.
Michie and I left for the track at 1 p.m. I had
some passes for the Hulman Terrace Suites.
I took the Crawfordsville Rd exit off of I-465 for
a change. I took Schoolwood Drive through
neighborhoods to Moller Rd, then over to 25th,
to Georgetown Rd. We parked in Lot 2 for $10.
with a high of 86°.
Michie and I left for the track at 1 p.m. I had
some passes for the Hulman Terrace Suites.
I took the Crawfordsville Rd exit off of I-465 for
a change. I took Schoolwood Drive through
neighborhoods to Moller Rd, then over to 25th,
to Georgetown Rd. We parked in Lot 2 for $10.
After we ate, we went out front to watch
practice. I sat in the top row which was in the
shade. Later in the day, several rows at the
top were in shade.
Michie wanted sun and sat in front of me. While
she watched through binoculars, I took photos.
Instead of there being a lot of drivers practicing
at the same time, it was just one or two drivers
at a time. They were all just practicing for
tomorrow's 4-Lap qualifying.
At one point Dalton Kellett came out on track
and I remarked to Michie that he must have
family money or a good sponsorship deal to
keep staying in IndyCar.
Immediately, some pretty young girl, came up
to me and told me she was Kellett's fiance.
(She was sitting several rows away and
apparently over heard me! Doh!)
I expected to get an ear full, but she only
wanted to say that they (the team) work very
hard.
I felt bad. I cut her off without pursuing the
financial angle and told her I knew every driver
out there was very talented and brave.
She was nice and I admired her chutzpah for
standing up for her man.
practice. I sat in the top row which was in the
shade. Later in the day, several rows at the
top were in shade.
Michie wanted sun and sat in front of me. While
she watched through binoculars, I took photos.
Instead of there being a lot of drivers practicing
at the same time, it was just one or two drivers
at a time. They were all just practicing for
tomorrow's 4-Lap qualifying.
At one point Dalton Kellett came out on track
and I remarked to Michie that he must have
family money or a good sponsorship deal to
keep staying in IndyCar.
Immediately, some pretty young girl, came up
to me and told me she was Kellett's fiance.
(She was sitting several rows away and
apparently over heard me! Doh!)
I expected to get an ear full, but she only
wanted to say that they (the team) work very
hard.
I felt bad. I cut her off without pursuing the
financial angle and told her I knew every driver
out there was very talented and brave.
She was nice and I admired her chutzpah for
standing up for her man.
We still had a bit of a walk as there were no
open entrances where we needed one.
We went straight to the Suite and bought food.
$40 got us a couple diet cokes, two mac-n-
cheese and one serving of roast pork ($18).
I was disappointed in the quality. The food was
much better the last time I was at these suites.
open entrances where we needed one.
We went straight to the Suite and bought food.
$40 got us a couple diet cokes, two mac-n-
cheese and one serving of roast pork ($18).
I was disappointed in the quality. The food was
much better the last time I was at these suites.
| Looking Left and Right from Hulman Terrace seats |
Michie and I signed out some pit passes and took a golf cart ride over to the media center.
We visited a gift shop and I bought a patch for this year’s race. Then we went into the pits.
We visited a gift shop and I bought a patch for this year’s race. Then we went into the pits.
| Above and below, Nicole Westra - driver Dalton Kellet's fiance. |
Update: I later learned that his sponsor K-LINE
is his family's business - a Canadian power
company.
So I was correct. His family has a lot of money
and they have funded his racing career.
Kellett, at age 29, decided to retire from
IndyCar at the end of this season. There is a
good article about all of this at Racer Magazine -
"A Salute To Dalton Kellett"
is his family's business - a Canadian power
company.
So I was correct. His family has a lot of money
and they have funded his racing career.
Kellett, at age 29, decided to retire from
IndyCar at the end of this season. There is a
good article about all of this at Racer Magazine -
"A Salute To Dalton Kellett"
| Dalton Kellet drives for AJ Foyt Racing |
| Rookie David Malukas drives for Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports |
| 2021 Indy 500 Winner Helio Castroneves drives for Meyer Shank Racing |
| Dutchman Rinus VeeKay drives for Ed Carpenter Racing |
| Sage Karam drives for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in this one-off entry. |
| Stefan Wilson drives for Cusick Motorsports in this one-off entry. |
| Takuma Sato drives for Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing |
Alley Cat Mike was there as usual.
The Alley Cat's fencing was now open at the
back.
Mike and one of his daughters were the only
Alley Cats present at the time. He told me he'd
been out every day. He is an inspiration!
I left my scanner bag there and Michie and I
walked through much of the garage area.
We saw some drivers. They all zip around on
scooters these days.
The Alley Cat's fencing was now open at the
back.
Mike and one of his daughters were the only
Alley Cats present at the time. He told me he'd
been out every day. He is an inspiration!
I left my scanner bag there and Michie and I
walked through much of the garage area.
We saw some drivers. They all zip around on
scooters these days.
Ed Carpenter and Conor Daly passed me going to their cars in the pits.
Ed told me it was hard out there today. (The track was hot and it was really windy for them,
especially on the back turns.)
Ed told me it was hard out there today. (The track was hot and it was really windy for them,
especially on the back turns.)
| The Borg-Warner Trophy was on display, sparkling in the sunshine. |
Ed Carpenter
| Conor Daly |
| Ed Carpenter Pulls out of pit box to go run a few laps. |
| Some screens in the McLaren Pit Box |
| Wide Video Screen above Gasoline Alley |
I finally saw the giant screen on the back of the pagoda – I don't think I've been inside the track
since the start of the pandemic.
There were some recent Corvette pace cars scattered around the plaza, and some huge military
guns.
I grabbed a Rum Runner cocktail from a stand for $10 and then we caught the golf cart back to
the suites.
since the start of the pandemic.
There were some recent Corvette pace cars scattered around the plaza, and some huge military
guns.
I grabbed a Rum Runner cocktail from a stand for $10 and then we caught the golf cart back to
the suites.
| Christian Lundgaard |
| David Malukas |
| Kyle Kirkwood |
| Dalton Kellett |
| Alex Palou |
| Helio Castroneve's Garage was covered in posters. |
| Like Juan Pablo Montoya's garage, several teams had their cars sideways in the garages. That is something new. |
| Graham Rahal's car is towed to the track. |
| Michie took selfies with drivers Scott McLaughlin and JR Hildebrand |
| Superfan Micheal Hopson's costume seems to change every year. |
It was a fun day!
After practice ended at 6pm, we caught another courtesy golf cart to the exit gate.
I took Crawfordsville Rd to 465, and home.
After practice ended at 6pm, we caught another courtesy golf cart to the exit gate.
I took Crawfordsville Rd to 465, and home.
Michie went on up to the suite and I grabbed another ride with a courtesy cart to the far south end.
I needed to buy some cables for my new scanner from Twin Tower Scanners.
I was able to quickly catch a cart back to the suites.
I love not having to walk everywhere.
I was surprised to find it was already 5 p.m.
I exchanged my pit pass for my drivers license, bought a whisky/coke for $10 and joined Michie
in the stands.
I needed to buy some cables for my new scanner from Twin Tower Scanners.
I was able to quickly catch a cart back to the suites.
I love not having to walk everywhere.
I was surprised to find it was already 5 p.m.
I exchanged my pit pass for my drivers license, bought a whisky/coke for $10 and joined Michie
in the stands.
| JR HIldebrand's AJ Foyt Racing car is sponsored by Homes For Our Troops |
| Callum Ilott drives the #77 for Juncos Hollinger Racing |
| Jack Harvey now drives for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| Tony Kanaan's Chip Ganassi Racing car also had a patriotic color scheme. (TK was supposed to retire a few years ago. This could be his last IndyCar race.) |
| The speedway has erected this structure over in the Turn 3 infield. I hear BMW uses it and allows customers to test drive their cars on the IMS road course. |
We walked down pit lane a ways, then came back and exited through gasoline alley.
