By Andrew Mell
Western Herald
When it comes to auto racing, many people seem to have similar feelings about the sport: what in the world is so interesting about watching cars go around and around in circles for hours at a time?
In terms of simplistic descriptions, cars driving around in circles take the cake, and when describing racing in such a way it does make it sound very boring. However, saying something like ‘guys running up and down a grassy field with a ball,’ or ‘people moving around a nicely polished wooden floor trying to place a ball through a hoop’ could describe soccer, or football, or basketball, and each of those descriptions also sound very boring, but those sports certainly are not.
Regardless of your interest, or lack thereof, in racing, there are certain events that are synonymous with American history and tradition, and the Indianapolis 500 is one such event. So when presented with the opportunity to attend last weekend’s 93rd running of the race it was a chance that I could not pass up.
When walking to the track a first time visitor might be surprised by the residential neighborhoods surrounding the track. There is no massive six lane highway leading in, but rather a quiet road with small one story houses crowded in on either side in what looks like a friendly, peaceful community – at least 364 days of the year anyway.
Likewise, the speedway itself is also quite unspectacular when first seen.
The grandstands are old and well used, and are surprisingly small compared to the massive steel structures that seem to tower to the heavens that are also engineered at most sporting venues.
However, it’s not really until you present your ticket to the usher and walk through the tunnel into your seating section that you are able to realize the spectacle that is Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The track rolls out before you, a seemingly endless expanse and the grandstands wrap around it making for an almost two mile long stretch of screaming fans that, at capacity, number nearly 400,000 strong making the Indianapolis 500 the largest one day sporting event in the world.
The front straightaway seems to go on forever with towering grandstands on both sides. A scoring pylon reaches into the sky signifying the running position of each driver, and Indy’s famous pagoda officials tower looms over the start/finish line.
The infield grandstand pauses momentarily to open into Gasoline Alley, a small stretch that connects the track to the garage area that each and every car must be pushed through before entering the hallowed grounds of the track.
Though the decline in popularity of open wheel racing has been evident in recent years, no doubt assisted by the recent expansion of the popularity of NASCAR, the Indy 500 hasn’t suffered one bit.
Fans still cram into every nook and cranny and, though the economy hurt attendance this year, there were still upwards of 300,000 fans in attendance.
The special thing about the Indianapolis 500 is all of the history and lore surrounding it. The track is celebrating its 100th year of racing this year. It has sat through World War I, the roaring twenties, the great depression, World War II, man’s first walk on the moon, and so many other great and terrible events.
How many events have run almost continually for one hundred years, save a couple of skipped years in the early 1900s and a dormancy during WWII, the Indy 500 has been a part of Americans lives for as long as any living person can remember.
Most people probably cannot name a single Indy Car driver, aside from Danica Patrick that is, and many people have no interest in racing whatsoever. But, the Indy 500 is truly an experience. It might be a car race, but it is a spectacle that represents so much history, and so much more than just racing.
Much like visiting a museum or exploring a historical site, going to Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an experience unlike any other that is capable of leaving a person satisfied and in awe. Just remember to bring some ear plugs.
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