Indy 500

[8T6 SVO]

Thinking about going to the Indy 500 this year. Any guidance for me out there? where to sit, do's and dont's, best pit pass access, etc.

[8T6 SVO]

I know you guys only care about F1 cars and don't care about Indy Cars (Great opener last weekend - huh???) but I'm going to Indy this year anyways...

[Meotchh]

If you are going to get a pit pass, make sure you walk around like you know what you are doing & completely ignore the clowns in the yellow shirts.

Do the museum, some really cool history in there.
Do pack your rain gear & expect flooding.

Where to sit it's a toss up. Turn one is where many drivers have run out of talent. Between 3 & 4 you'll see some good views. I mostly watched it from a tv in our timing, from a tv in one of the garages or from one of the jumbotrons around the in field.

You going to be there for the pitstop challenge?

[8T6 SVO]

Just going to Indy for race day. Should be such a spectacle, that once in a life time should be enough. At least I have covered seating down the front stretch.

I am going to Detroit for a couple of days and plan on visiting Ford and Viper stuff.

[Patrick]

See the Indy Museum. That is a must do thing.

[dynoguy]

+1 one the museum. It really is all that and more.
Any trip to Indy has a 75% chance of rain or snow... be prepared.
If you get a chance to head across town to IRP (Indianapolis Raceway Park) that is fun too.
And lastly, any Hooters Restaurant in the Midwest is way better than the ones I've been to in CA. Have a great time. Everybody should go at least once.

[MikeFleming]

And lastly, any Hooters Restaurant in the Midwest is way better than the ones I've been to in CA. Better food? Better beers? Better what?

[8T6 SVO]

See the Indy Museum. That is a must do thing.


Is that at the track? I bet it will be packed on race day. I do have a late flight on the Monday following the race, maybe there will be time to see it on Monday - Thanks.

[Meotchh]

The museum is at the track at the Georgetown entrance.
http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/facility/35204-Museum/

[Chalky]

Greg, if you're going to Detroit I highly recommend the Henry Ford and Chrysler museums. Also, the Hudson museum in Ypsilanti is well worth a visit. The House of Haas is also a worthwhile destination:):):)

[MikeFleming]

The best part of watching Indy Cars is hearing the announcers say "And a Honda passes another Chevro-let".

[8T6 SVO]

Greg, if you're going to Detroit I highly recommend the Henry Ford and Chrysler museums. Also, the Hudson museum in Ypsilanti is well worth a visit. The House of Haas is also a worthwhile destination:):):)

Sounds like I'm gonna be there for a while...


The best part of watching Indy Cars is hearing the announcers say "And a Honda passes another Chevro-let".

Hope they don't mess up and say "And a Honda passes another chevy-o-let"

[Meotchh]

The best part of watching Indy Cars is hearing the announcers say "And a Honda passes another Chevro-let".

Although that is nice to hear that, Honda was unable to pull off a championship last year.

[MikeFleming]

Hope they don't mess up and say "And a Honda passes another poopy-o-let" That is a registered trademark of this forum.


Although that is nice to hear that, Honda was unable to pull off a championship last year. After winning how many previous championships?

[Patrick]

Greg, ask Brad for the secret entry code to the home and shop that is 2 blocks up the street from the Speedway. The multiple time 500 winning chief mechanic and constructor has many championship cars hanging on the ceiling in his garage.

[Meotchh]

After winning how many previous championships?

1996 - Ford/Cosworth 2 championships in the same year (They had 1 competing manufacture that year, Mercedes/ Ilmor & it only ran at Indy in one entry)
1997 - 2001 - Oldsmobile/Aurora 5 championships (They had 1 competing manufacture, Infinity/Nissan for all 5 years)
2002 - Chevetrolet rebadged Olds/Aurora 1 Championship (They had 1 competing manufacture, Infinity/Nissan)
2003 - Toyota 1 championship (They competed with Honda/Ilmor from 2004 - 2005)
2004 - 2011 - Honda/Ilmor 8 championships (They had 1 competing manufacture, Toyota for 2 years & 6 years of no competing manufactures)
2012 - *********/Judd? 1 Championship (They had 2 competing manufactures Honda/Ilmor & Lotus/ with some Cosworth help but mostly Lotus)

Although Honda has more championships, they have only had competition for 2 of those championships. Fact is the Chevetrolet package is more reliable. Honda did have a slight fuel economy advantage, but it doesn't help when your top notch cars are not finishing the race due to reliability issues.

[TheSVOTrust]

Greg, if you're going to Detroit I highly recommend the Henry Ford and Chrysler museums. Also, the Hudson museum in Ypsilanti is well worth a visit. The House of Haas is also a worthwhile destination:):):)

Chalky
Stop sending people here !! All I do is feed them and deliver YOUR PARTS !!! (really nothing in it for me)

Mark
P.S. Then again Ray visited and I chose to show him the WRONG WHEELS (he want to buy a set) ! Poor guy probably thought - man this guy has all these SVO's and doesn't know what wheels I want ! LOL

[Ford Builder]

Mark am here, Your friend chose to feed me and Andy as well your self , Chris don't believe what Mark says he is full of bunk, Mark, I had great time Ill be back you can count on that.

[Patrick]

So I should just show up unexpectedly and have him feed me???

[Ford Builder]

Yes , he will make sure you don't starve!!

[Patrick]

The best part of watching Indy Cars is hearing the announcers say "And a Honda passes another Chevro-let".You said the nasty word. Banned! until next post.

[8T6 SVO]

An un-forgettable event! Even if a Poopy won!!!!

I can't tell you how spectacular it was to see. It is way different in person than on TV. I couldn't get the smile off my face for the first 50 laps!! We had great seats, covered up high, on the infield side out of turn 4 near the entry to the pits.

Prior to the 500, We went to the Rouge River Factory, Henry Ford Museum, and Greenfield Village. Also met with the Chief Powertrain Engineer for the SRT Viper and toured Chrysler stuff. Even hung out at Woodward Ave., M-1 - for a little bit.

I had a e-mail exchange with Mr. Indy 500 before I left (Andy G. has been inspirational to me since I was a young kid watching the Indy 500) and the race could not have had more perfect weather. The finish was the only bummer of the trip - ended under caution.

On the way home via Phoenix, Arie Lyendyk was on the plane, and some guy (who would not tell me who he was) showed me pictures of him with all kinds of drivers including Tony Kannan. He is friends with all the racers. Best friend is Paul Tracy? Sold his 1100 Horsepower Sand Rail to Kyle Bush. He told me his grandfather was a close friend of Craig Barrett Dad's and has never missed an Auction (some help here Mark Haas - he's a local Az.). His Dad was an GM executive? That's all I know - other than seeing lots of neat pictures of racers and stories after the race all the way from Inianapolis to Phoenix.

That was a Bucket list item, for sure.

[Meotchh]

Was he bout 6ft tall, balding in his mid 40's? Could have been PTs former motorcoach driver. He lives at Havasu pretty much next door to PT.

[8T6 SVO]

No balding...