joshua wilsher

The Brickyard

The Brickyard is the third installment of major racing events each year at Indianpolis Motor Speedway. The 500 is obviously the cream of Indy racing, while the F1 race serves at the nation's Grand Prix. The Brickyard seems to play second fiddle to Daytona, but with a crowd of over 300,000, and drivers including Jimmmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeff Gordon, it is no way a small event.

Having sold out of cheap tickets, I debated attending the event but decided in the end that it was perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I headed to the track (in the back of a pickup truck I had asked to ride in when my first form of transport ended). Ready to take on the scalpers, but unaware of the value of tickets at this late juncture, I agreed to pay $75 for a ticket with a face value of $60, from the driver of the pickup. It ended up that I paid $20 for $85 ticket so I'm glad I shopped around. It was a good seat; on the straight, in front of the pits, and under cover (a bonus as the heat index was over 100).

Here's the things I found of most interest

* The Brickyard is an event where spectators are free to bring in eskies of booze and food. This is extremely unusual for sporting events, but so is the fact that the event can not be catered for as there are too many people (so I took about 5 bottles of water).

* Although it's completely surrounded by Indianapolis, the racetrack is in a town called "Speedway", with its own Town Hall, Police Department, Fire Department, Public Library, and the Speedway School System - these are not funded by taxes, but rather racing.

* The majority of the 13,000 residents living in "Speedway" offer parking vehicle space to spectators. For $15-$20 you get to park your vehicle on their lawn, BBQ and drink on their lawn, and some deals include the use of their inside toilet. So as you walk around, imagine your neighbourhood with as many cars squeezed on to each property as can fit.

* A minister said a prayer over the loudspeaker before the race (as the majority of spectators were from the midwest and southern states, it was entertaining to hear hundereds of thousands of people say "Amen" together).

As far as the actual race goes, I loved it when the pace car quickly ducks into the pits and the 43 cars behind it put the pedal to the floor as they blast for the start line. Very loud! And in true US style, the winner Jimmie Johnson does a massive burnout for the folks as he parades after his win. Git-ir-dun!

posted by Joshiesmoov @ 11:04 AM