| Another Perspective |
| DAN'S PHOTO JOURNALS |
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| Indy 500 Race Day - My House Sunday, May 26, 2024 |
Oct 27 - I wasn't going to create this page since
I didn't go to the race. But people keep asking.
We had tickets for top row of NW Vista which we
payed $320 for.
Basically, we figured race day was going to be
rained out and ran on Monday, so we stayed up
late.
After a few hours sleep I got up to watch Monaco,
while E.T. slept in.
We held off going as it looked like rain and sure
enough, a big thunderstorm rolled in before the
race could start.
The TV reported that everyone at the track was
being asked to leave the stands and the infield!
We were glad we were not there.
I couldn't keep my eyes open and fell asleep
about 3 pm.
When I awoke, they were getting ready to start
the race! ACK! (For some reason it was on TV
and not blacked out.) ET hadn't woke me up!
He seemed happy about staying home. This
was very strange! Maybe he didn't want to do
a lot of walking due to his injured knee? I was
torn. I didn't feel like going anywhere and I
grudgingly decided to eat the tickets and stay
home too.
We sat at my dining room table and watched
it on TV for a while, then moved to the living
room to watch it on the big TV.
There were lots of good racing. Pato O’Ward
was dueling with Josef Newgarden for the win
at the end and Newgarden did it – winning his
2nd 500 in a row!
We really missed a good one.
I didn't go to the race. But people keep asking.
We had tickets for top row of NW Vista which we
payed $320 for.
Basically, we figured race day was going to be
rained out and ran on Monday, so we stayed up
late.
After a few hours sleep I got up to watch Monaco,
while E.T. slept in.
We held off going as it looked like rain and sure
enough, a big thunderstorm rolled in before the
race could start.
The TV reported that everyone at the track was
being asked to leave the stands and the infield!
We were glad we were not there.
I couldn't keep my eyes open and fell asleep
about 3 pm.
When I awoke, they were getting ready to start
the race! ACK! (For some reason it was on TV
and not blacked out.) ET hadn't woke me up!
He seemed happy about staying home. This
was very strange! Maybe he didn't want to do
a lot of walking due to his injured knee? I was
torn. I didn't feel like going anywhere and I
grudgingly decided to eat the tickets and stay
home too.
We sat at my dining room table and watched
it on TV for a while, then moved to the living
room to watch it on the big TV.
There were lots of good racing. Pato O’Ward
was dueling with Josef Newgarden for the win
at the end and Newgarden did it – winning his
2nd 500 in a row!
We really missed a good one.
We enjoyed some "Indy Dogs" and beer.
I had live timing and scoring streaming to my
tablet too.
I had live timing and scoring streaming to my
tablet too.
| E.T. |
That night, E.T. went hot tubbing.
Along came another long thunderstorm and E.T.
stayed in it through the whole thing!
Along came another long thunderstorm and E.T.
stayed in it through the whole thing!
Since I didn't have a story to tell, I decided to share someone elses!
Earlier in the year, a guy from the Netherlands was planning a trip with
his 3 friends to the 500 to support Rinus VeeKay. It would be their first
visit and perhaps the only visit in their lifetime. He had been e-mailing
me questions in order to plan a great trip.
Naturallly he had started out looking for Penthouse E tickets, but he
later settled for the NE Vista.
I e-mailed him after the race and asked him how it went and he sent me
the following letter and photos.
Earlier in the year, a guy from the Netherlands was planning a trip with
his 3 friends to the 500 to support Rinus VeeKay. It would be their first
visit and perhaps the only visit in their lifetime. He had been e-mailing
me questions in order to plan a great trip.
Naturallly he had started out looking for Penthouse E tickets, but he
later settled for the NE Vista.
I e-mailed him after the race and asked him how it went and he sent me
the following letter and photos.
Hi Dan,
Nice to hear from you. We had an awesome time!
We rented a house with a swimming pool, 15
minutes from the circuit.
FRIDAY:
At Carb day we sat in Penthouse E for practice
(Wow! Amazing place.)
We moved down and sat along the finish line for
the Pitstop Challenge.
We also went to the concert.
We even met Arie Luydendyk!
Had a blast in some local food shack called
Vinny's Drive Bar. Buckets and food ridiculously
cheap.
Such friendly people in general in Indiana.
Nice to hear from you. We had an awesome time!
We rented a house with a swimming pool, 15
minutes from the circuit.
FRIDAY:
At Carb day we sat in Penthouse E for practice
(Wow! Amazing place.)
We moved down and sat along the finish line for
the Pitstop Challenge.
We also went to the concert.
We even met Arie Luydendyk!
Had a blast in some local food shack called
Vinny's Drive Bar. Buckets and food ridiculously
cheap.
Such friendly people in general in Indiana.
SATURDAY:
On Saturday we had a booze night opposite to the Pacer's stadium,
when they actually played the Conference final - superb atmosphere!
On Saturday we had a booze night opposite to the Pacer's stadium,
when they actually played the Conference final - superb atmosphere!
SUNDAY:
On race day, of course, we were standing in traffic jams at 7:00 am already,
but after I did some amazing 3rd lane outside overtaking maneuvers, found a
parking spot 5 minute walk to our NE Vista seats (just below the spotters) for $15.
After we effectuated our personal safety plans successfully during the thunderstorm
(drinking beers under the stands), we saw the track being blown dry and got to
witness one of the best Indys in years, with the final pass in the last lap right before our noses!
And, of course, we saw VeeKay lead some laps as well.
After that we drove to C-town (Chicago) to do some sight seeing.
Just wanted to thank you for all your help too, your tips and tricks really proved very valuable.
Regards,
Olaf van den Hoven
On race day, of course, we were standing in traffic jams at 7:00 am already,
but after I did some amazing 3rd lane outside overtaking maneuvers, found a
parking spot 5 minute walk to our NE Vista seats (just below the spotters) for $15.
After we effectuated our personal safety plans successfully during the thunderstorm
(drinking beers under the stands), we saw the track being blown dry and got to
witness one of the best Indys in years, with the final pass in the last lap right before our noses!
And, of course, we saw VeeKay lead some laps as well.
After that we drove to C-town (Chicago) to do some sight seeing.
Just wanted to thank you for all your help too, your tips and tricks really proved very valuable.
Regards,
Olaf van den Hoven
| Olaf with The Flying Dutchman |
