It was chilly and breeze, and sometimes moist, for Community Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, leading up to the 97th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. But that didn’t deter the hardy fans who turned up for all kinds of family activities, including the three separate IZOD IndyCar driver autograph sessions.
In the Garage Area, there was a varying level of activity amongst the race teams. Andretti Autosports had all five garages open just enough to showcase each race car. Over at Pole Sitter, Ed Carpenter Racing, the team was working on the race car. Several garages, such as Team Penske Racing, appeared to be locked up tight.
What appeared to be a brass-plated version of the chrome horn that is so PAUL TRACY, turned out to be the fitting for the pneumatic air jack for the race car of TONY KANAAN/KV Racing Technology. Learn something every day.
Inside the Pagoda Pavillion, all thirty-three of the Indy 500 drivers were signing autographs and all matter of items being proffered by the families and fans.
Meanwhile, out in Pagoda Plaza, the young lions of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder program such as MATTHEW BRABHAM, were being interviewed and playing Q&A with the fans. Young Brabham races for Andretti Autosport in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. MICHAEL ANDRETTI/Andretti Autosport has at least one driver in each of the ladder series, which includes U.S. F2000 National Championship. Pro Mazda Championship (known as “Star Mazda” until the end of the 2012 season). Firestone Indy Lights, and IZOD IndyCar Series.
Over in the Firestone Indy Lights Series garage area – behind the hospitality area, the teams are off-loading and setting up. There are eleven entries, with seven run by IndyCar team owners, MICHAEL ANDRETTI, BRYAN HERTA and SAM SCHMIDT.
Despite Wednesday not being the actual Indy 500 Media Day, more than a few of the drivers were running around giving interviews, such as those who queued up to talk with JACK ARUTE for his two-hour Sunday Pre-Race show on Sirius Radio – Team Penske drivers A.J. ALLMENDINGER and WILL POWER, and Andretti Autosport drivers MARCO ANDRETTI and JAMES HINCHCLIFFE. And JOSEF NEWGARDEN/Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda driver did his daily video blog in the Media Center lobby.
