It was Community Day Wednesday at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, leading up to the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 race. The admission was free, the weather beautiful and clear, and the access was open everywhere. There were driver autograph sessions – first the Firestone Indy Lights drivers, and then three separate autograph sessions with the IndyCar drivers. Wristbands were required and fans queued up in the sun, first for the bands, and then entrance into the cool sports chalet.
Among the activities were tours, of the hospitality suites and Timing & Scoring. I got to see the Start-Finish camera which takes 10,000 photos per second! Such an amazing factoid. On a nearby laptop was one of the photos showing how close cars can be taking the checkered flag.
While the drivers were signing autographs and other tough duties, the crews were busy in the garages. Every car I saw was in partial stages, up on jacks, bodywork nearby. The only team which had its doors shuttered was Andretti Autosports. All the other teams were visible, and fans checking it all out. I saw one garage with little kids hanging out, playing in front of the ‘car.’
The autograph drivers were downright casual, fun, relaxed and so accommodating. Despite the posted rules regarding no photo poses, only one autograph, autographs not guaranteed, etc, the drivers were signing a large variety of items including large posters, helmets, the backs of little children’s jumpers, etc. All willingly posted for photos and talked with the fans.
One group of fans serenaded RUEBENS BARRICHELLO/KV Racing Technology Chevrolet upon learning today was his 40th birthday. I had seen him earlier ‘racing’ his golf cart from a birthday festivity to the autograph session.
At the other end of the spectrum, the two youngest drivers are both 21, Rookie JOSEF NEWGARDEN/Sarah Fisher Hartman Honda, born in December 1990 and SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA/AFS/Andretti Autosport Chevrolet, who will turn 22 next month.
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE/Andretti Autosport Chevrolet had said earlier Wednesday in a teleconference that he enjoyed the break in the routine, after qualifying. There has been no rain so far in the busy May Indy 500 schedule, so cars were on course for long day. He needed to “disconnect – to get away.” Hinch said the days were so long and full there hasn’t been enough time to assess all the downloaded data.
And getaway he did. All of the Indy 500 field were scattered across North America the past two days doing multiple media and public appearances, before coming back to Indy for Community Day.
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GRAHAM RAHAL/Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing Honda and teammate CHARLIE KIMBALL/Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Honda were the funniest. They humorously ratted out their buddy, MARCO ANDRETTI/Andretti Autosport. Earlier in the week Rahal had posted a photo on Facebook of Andretti wearing a pink make-up smock – at Bloomberg’s for a media function where Rahal and Andretti had to wear makeup. In discussing it after the fact, Rahal started the jokes, and Kimball chimed in. They said Andretti’s favorite color is pink, his bedroom is pink with a Barbie bed, and he sleeps under a large poster of himself. So, guys, you know this because ….?
A good time was had by all.