The Greatest Spectacle In Racing!

[jrose7004]

I can remember as a kid growing up in Oklahoma,I wasn't exposed to a lot of racing. Certainly not NASCAR but rather midgets and the occasional USAC sprint car show. Names like Lloyd Ruby, Parnelli Jones and Jack Zink would come through here. So naturally I was just smitten with the idea that the Indy 500 was the top of the peak. I'd read everything I could get my hands on about it! I dreamed of one day being there or better yet, compete in it! There wasn't TV coverage so I'd listen to the radio for qulifiying and bump day. Of course on the day of the race I'd listen to every lap. I knew about every driver, his hometown and history. Then came the open wheel split between the IRL and CART. Now I'm hard pressed to even tell you whose even in it. Other than Danica Patrick I don't even really know anymore. Oh I'll watch it on and off while we cook out and hang out by the pool, but it just doesn't hold the magic it once held and it's just sad!

 

[6 Shooter]

YEP - The Indy Race has a lot of competition these days!

BTW - That's a nice signature picture ya got going on, it's almost as large as the pictures I post...​

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L8TR - D

 

[jrose7004]

I was wondering where your really large pictures of the Cruise in were!!

 

[F4Gary]

Well, if you followed Indy car racing at all, most of those names would not be unfamiliar. Danica Patrick? You must read Redbook or Cosmopolitan. Or you buy the Sports Illustrated swim suit issue.

 

[jrose7004]

Well, if you followed Indy car racing at all, most of those names would not be unfamiliar. Danica Patrick? You must read Redbook or Cosmopolitan. Or you buy the Sports Illustrated swim suit issue.

Indy Car isn't "mainstream" any more! The battle between CART and IRL took it's toll. NASCAR got more than a foothold during that time and basically took the spotlight. Besides if you watched the race, you'd have thought that Danica had the only car in the race!

 

[hotshotzny]

Well, if you followed Indy car racing at all, most of those names would not be unfamiliar. Danica Patrick? You must read Redbook or Cosmopolitan. Or you buy the Sports Illustrated swim suit issue.

amazing what a little airbrushing can do isnt it

 

[jrose7004]

Her hair is always blowing just slightly in all of the commercials!

 

[rascal_rascal_99]

Just look at some of the names in the recent past that have jumped ship from indy car racing, it's almost like it's not the top tier series it should be and to me has the feel of a stepping stone series for drivers with aspirations of making it to F1 or Nascar. I was half watching, half doing other things around the house during the Indy 500 and if it weren't for doing other things at the time I'd have probably fallen asleep watching it. Seemed like there was more follow the leader and whoever gets in front stays in front than anything else.

 

[hotshotzny]

the yankees were playing.. could care less about indy to be honest...... autoracing in general has me pretty bored to be honest. hate the new points system in nascar, never cared for open wheel stuff, more fun to go to my local dirt track and watch the car i sponser wreck everyone

 

[rascal_rascal_99]

Dirts for real racing, asphault is just for getting there!

 

[jrose7004]

Dirts for real racing, asphault is just for getting there!

Word!

 

[6 Shooter]

DUDE - Keep your freaking dirt!

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L8TR - D

 

[jrose7004]

Formula 1 D?

 

[6 Shooter]

JR - F1 is Top Shelf Racing!

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L8TR - D

 

[jrose7004]

Why they're just feeding NASCAR too with Montoya and Speed!

 

[6 Shooter]

They're just throwing out their scraps!

 

[jrose7004]

I agree, JP's a slouch!

 

[hotshotzny]

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L8TR - D

i cant afford to sponsor one of these just yet...... maybe i can get my name on a valve stem cap but thats about it

 

[6 Shooter]

JR - Real Race Cars in Real Weather Conditions!

 

[Tom Bryant]

When I was a kid Memorial day was on Menorial day, not just on Monday. The event was deluted when the fools in congress decided that a three day weekend was more important than tradidtion.

A lot of the same names are stll at Indy if you pay attention. NASCAR has grown tremendously and F1 is now live due to advances in communications. It used to be that the only live racing broadcast all year was Indy and it was just on the radio. You had to read about anything else in a magazine a month after the event. There is just too much competition for your attention these days. For me, watching any kind of ball sports is as much fun as going to the mall shopping with a bunch of women. Just shoot me and get it over with. But that's what's great about the USA. We have choices. Too many in some cases.

I was thrilled to see that Indy was a near sell out this year, if not completely. Even the infield was packed like I used to see years ago. I used to go to Carb Day to watch them practice because thaere was a lot of track time and you got to see a lot without the big crowds. This year one journalist said it took him an hour and a half to get to the track on Carb Day from his motel about 20 minutes away. He just couldn't believe the size of the crowds.

There's a lot of empty seats at NASCAR rght now and seats are being removed at a lot of tracks. It may be economy related but NASCAR has peaked and is now seaking it's own level. I won't be doing my usual both Michigan races this year due to finances. I'll be back as soon as I can afford it though. I will be doing my annual trip to Eldora for the Prelude next week. That is just too much fun to miss plus the tickets are only $25.

Tom