I can still remember the very first time that I had the opportunity to go to Indianapolis. It was for the 1987 Indy 500. I went with a friend in his in-law’s motor home. As we drove down 16th Street and got to the corners of Georgetown,16th Street, and Crawfordville Rd, there it was….the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway! The hair on the back of my neck stood at attention and my heart rate raced!! WOW, I am really looking at The Speedway!
Up to that point I had either, listened to or watched, the Indy 500 for about 30 of my, then 36 years. Now I am here, and I going to watch the pomp and pageantry of the 1987 Indy 500 in person! I am going to witness the “THE GREATEST SPECTACLE IN RACING”!
As I walked into grounds at Indy again the exhilaration of being there washed all over my being. The ghostly presence of yesteryear legends are hauntingly present at the Brickyard! Sam Hanks, Parnelli Jones, Roger Ward, A. J. Foyt, Jr., Al Unser, Sr., Andy Granatelli, Mario Andretti, Tony Hulman, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, and two time winner and my hometown boy Billy Vukovich, are just some of the names that came to mind as I sat in my seat. I was totally humbled to be in this very historic facility!
Sunday NASCAR will run its 16th race at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Even though NASCAR only accounts for 15 races so far, they are establishing their own niche in the annals of The Indianapolis Motor Speedway historical books.
Two of Indiana’s favorite sons, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, have accounted for a total of 6 victories out of the 15 races ran so far.
So when the crowds start to file into the track on Sunday morning, I can only assume that those same electric , exhilarating, and historical thoughts that are associated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will permeate their brains.
After all, there are 100 years of revered history that ooze throughout this facility!
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
