OT: It's May...You Know What That Means...INDY!!!

[Hovadipo 56,399]

It's Christmas part deux. Opening day is this Sunday with oval testing for the new aero kits at IMS. Next weekend is the GP of Indy. Then May 24th is the big day!

Roll call!

[Josh 12,649]

It already started, here in St Pete.  I live about 4 miles from where they race.  The new cars are quiet....relatively speaking of course.

[Hovadipo 56,399]

It already started, here in St Pete. I live about 4 miles from where they race. The new cars are quiet....relatively speaking of course.

It was weird when the DW12 was introduced...I didn't leave the race feeling like I just sat front row for AC/DC.

[Josh 12,649]

How long ago was that?  The cars didn't rattle my house this year, seems like maybe last year too?

[Hovadipo 56,399]

How long ago was that? The cars didn't rattle my house this year, seems like maybe last year too?

Yeah the DW12 is only a year or 2 old. (DW = Dan Wheldon) Races were miserable in the mid to late 2000's, and probably before but I can't really remember.

[Josh 12,649]

RIP Dan.  He lived in my neighborhood.  Great guy

[Hovadipo 56,399]

I got to meet him once. Incredible dude. Tragic.

[IU Bud 445]

It's Christmas part deux. Opening day is this Sunday with oval testing for the new aero kits at IMS. Next weekend is the GP of Indy. Then May 24th is the big day!

Roll call!

Yep, I feel the same way. I grew up 2+ hours from Indy, but our local radio station carried radio coverage of qualifications.  I would get a radio and sit outside and listen to the calls on the radio.  My dad took me to the track when I was 5 and I imagined the cars going around the track.

 

I would grab dad's keys at church and race to the car to listen to the race on Sunday morning.  I started going to the track again during college.  One memory was riding to Indy in my 65 Mustang with my cousin in the pouring rain for qualifications.  We were stuffing towels around the windows because rain was leaking through.  We arrived in Indy as the rain ended and the sun came out.  We got to watch the hometown "Spirit of Vincennes" get on track.  It was the same car I appeared on the front page of the paper posing with it and my future bride at an open house for Usona Purcell's race shop.  It started in the last row and finished 12th. It was the first year his car qualified after many years of attempts.  My dad was a friend of Usona (Usona stood for United States Of North America) and his shop was near our house.

 

I began attending the race regularly after college despite moving to Kentucky. I only missed when my wife was overdue for the birth of my daughter and didn't want to risk missing it if she went into labor.

 

I have been taking my son since he was 7 and my wife confessed she didn't enjoy going that much.  My son will be 25 on race day. We have experienced the rush to the car through a storm and dodging tornadoes on the drive home.  We pulled over and road out the storm in a McDonalds.  We survived the thermostat housing busting on 465 as we were approaching the track. I hope to continue the tradition for years to come. 

[Hovadipo 56,399]

Yep, I feel the same way. I grew up 2+ hours from Indy, but our local radio station carried radio coverage of qualifications. I would get a radio and sit outside and listen to the calls on the radio. My dad took me to the track when I was 5 and I imagined the cars going around the track.

I would grab dad's keys at church and race to the car to listen to the race on Sunday morning. I started going to the track again during college. One memory was riding to Indy in my 65 Mustang with my cousin in the pouring rain for qualifications. We were stuffing towels around the windows because rain was leaking through. We arrived in Indy as the rain ended and the sun came out. We got to watch the hometown "Spirit of Vincennes" get on track. It was the same car I appeared on the front page of the paper posing with it and my future bride at an open house for Usona Purcell's race shop. It started in the last row and finished 12th. It was the first year his car qualified after many years of attempts. My dad was a friend of Usona (Usona stood for United States Of North America) and his shop was near our house.

I began attending the race regularly after college despite moving to Kentucky. I only missed when my wife was overdue for the birth of my daughter and didn't want to risk missing it if she went into labor.

I have been taking my son since he was 7 and my wife confessed she didn't enjoy going that much. My son will be 25 on race day. We have experienced the rush to the car through a storm and dodging tornadoes on the drive home. We pulled over and road out the storm in a McDonalds. We survived the thermostat housing busting on 465 as we were approaching the track. I hope to continue the tradition for years to come.

My first was when I was 7 too. This year will be 15 straight and I don't plan on missing one soon. Next year will be bonkers being the 100th. NO ONE should miss that one.

[Parakeet Jones 3,773]

This year will be #22 for me. Race day is the best day of the year period. My two great sports loves are IU basketball and this race. Like yo said May is like a second December and Christmastime. I am ready to get up there two weeks from today for practice too.

Thanks for starting this thread. I try to get one going every year but it never seems to gain much traction. I hope this thread turns into a great discussion of all things Indy 2015. There is no other group of sports fans I'd rather discuss this with. Nice folks here unlike a popular Indy car forum.

[Hovadipo 56,399]

This year will be #22 for me. Race day is the best day of the year period. My two great sports loves are IU basketball and this race. Like yo said May is like a second December and Christmastime. I am ready to get up there two weeks from today for practice too.

Thanks for starting this thread. I try to get one going every year but it never seems to gain much traction. I hope this thread turns into a great discussion of all things Indy 2015. There is no other group of sports fans I'd rather discuss this with. Nice folks here unlike a popular Indy car forum.

TrackForum? I found that place one time a while back looking for some info...yikes. That place is a wasteland of angry old men lol. No thanks

[Parakeet Jones 3,773]

TrackForum? I found that place one time a while back looking for some info...yikes. That place is a wasteland of angry old men lol. No thanks

That is the one. Anyone who thinks this place gets bad after a loss needs to check that place out on an average day. I registered for an account there years ago and have only posted about 5 times.

I do love lurking there though. You can pick up some good info early because some of those guys have connections.

[Hovadipo 56,399]

That is the one. Anyone who thinks this place gets bad after a loss needs to check that place out on an average day. I registered for an account there years ago and have only posted about 5 times.

I do love lurking there though. You can pick up some good info early because some of those guys have connections.

Yeah I've lurked there quite a bit and it seems like a bunch of people on there have good friends or are in the industry themselves. Pretty cool. I was on the other day and saw pictures of the new videoboards. Good lawwwddd.

[Parakeet Jones 3,773]

I am hoping there is a stream of tomorrow's opening day I can watch. Sounds like speeds will be up this year with the likelihood of an NTR next year.

[LIHoosier 26,297]

I am hoping there is a stream of tomorrow's opening day I can watch. Sounds like speeds will be up this year with the likelihood of an NTR next year.

From 9:30-5:00

 

http://racecontrol.indycar.com/

[Parakeet Jones 3,773]

From 9:30-5:00

http://racecontrol.indycar.com/

Thanks

[Parakeet Jones 3,773]

226+ on day one.  Not too bad. I'm guessing with the speed creep that goes on over the month and the boost for qualifying we'll see 234ish for the pole.  

[IU Bud 445]

Yeah I've lurked there quite a bit and it seems like a bunch of people on there have good friends or are in the industry themselves. Pretty cool. I was on the other day and saw pictures of the new videoboards. Good lawwwddd.

Did they add more video boards or update the current ones? We are between two boards and the angles make it hard to watch either one very well.

[Hovadipo 56,399]

Did they add more video boards or update the current ones? We are between two boards and the angles make it hard to watch either one very well.

I haven't been to the track yet but I've seen pictures. There are new, bigger HD boards up replacing the old ones. I think they're in the same positions as the old ones but don't hold me to that. I think there's a new board attached to the stands behind pit row for the people on the outside of the front stretch as well. And some cool new signage dotted around the track.

Here's an article:

http://indysportsreport.com/2015/04/indianapolis-motor-speedway-adds-20-new-video-boards/

[IU Bud 445]

Reasons Indycar > Nascar

 

1. Indycar doesn't give laps back without earning it.

2. Indycars don't have fake headlights and taillights.

3. Indycar doesn't play with the points so favorite drivers are in contention for the championship.

4. Indycar doesn't have a green/white/checker to prevent an unknown driver from winning by using good strategy.

5. Indycar uses state of the art engines, not technology from the 1950's. (Nascar gets some points for finally using fuel injection)

6. Heavy Nascar cars on road courses. They wallow through turns like an elephant on an obstacle course.

 

What did I miss?