Art goes to the races

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

I attended the USGP at Indianapolis last weekend. I wasn't really expecting it to be that great, but was pleasantly surprised at the accessibility to good viewing locations, and in particular the seats overlooking turn 1 that my host procured. Some high points:

* Saw a Ford GT behind the Pagoda. A red one. I want.
* The Speedway Museum has an awesome collection. A little boy there asked me if a pre-WWI Benz racer on display was a Corvette. I smiled and said "yes". Next he asked if the LeMans winning 1966 Ford GT-40 MkII was a Corvette. "No, that's a real race car." Then I pointed out '57 Corvette SS display, but he seemed more interested in the GT-40. Score one for the next generation!
* Daquiris, Bloody Marys and Fosters all priced the same at refreshment stands.
* Excellent Jaguar club display at Monument Circle (downtown), including a D-Type and XK-SS (street version of D-Type).
* Lots of lead changes and passing during the F1 race. I have a theory that Schumacher qualified badly so that Montoya would punt Barrichello instead

* It was sleeting, just for a moment, while the cars were in pre-grid. Yep, summer's over.
* Priest asked for moment of silence for the late Governor O'Bannon during invocation, Indiana National Guard F16s flew over at that exact moment.
* Jenson Button (who? ... exactly) led the race for a while.
* I won a Michelin Man Bobble-head at the Michelin display.
* I did not ride the Segue.
* Lots of Ferrari fans with big red flags and little air horns.
* Half-full beer can tossing contest at turn 8 viewing mound much classier than similar event at Daytona 24 Hours.

Next year's race will be in June, either right after or right before (I can't recall) the Canadian GP.

Art

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Oct 01, 2003 9:31 am

I attended the first F1 race at the new Indy track (99?). I have been to a few CART, IMSA, Historic Races, but it was my live first F1 race. As always, watching in person is a totally different experience than watching via TV.

We had seats near turn one. We spent about 1/4 of the race there and wondered around for the rest with another large chunk of time spent at turns 8,9.

Memorable moments....

* I once again realizing that just a raincoat is 1/2 of what you need when it rains. My pants were soaked via the pre-race rain due to lack of full rain suit. :twisted:

* Watching car after car through turns 1,2,3 and 8,9 and seeing how smooth M. Schumacher can be. :shock:

* Listening to David Coultard running down the main straight as he approached turn 1 with no other cars nearby so you could hear just his car. The sound (Weeeee!) of that engine near redline for such a long time down the main straight gave me goose bumps.

* The infield circus that is part of any racing event.

* The quantity of Ferrari fans.

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