Today I got to go to the Indianapolis Speedway in what may have been the best possible circumstances. I was going to see my friend Chuck’s wife Lynda ride around the track in a two-seater Formula One racecar. Chuck bought the ride for her to commemorate her 50th time seeing the Indy 500.
It’s pretty cool, they cut a race car in half right behind the driver, stick in another seat, and weld it all back together. Then for $450 or so you get to get all suited up and take 3 laps around the track at 180 mph. I had never been to a racetrack that was paved when there were race cars on it, so I jumped at the chance to go. It may have turned out to be the perfect way for me to experience the track too. There were no crowds, no drunken idiots, no parking hassles, and I didn’t have to pay to get in. I got to drive right up into the infield, walk a very short distance, sign my life away, get a wristband, and walk right up to the pit area where they were loading the riders.
There was only one car on the track, and it was LOUD. I can’t imaging how loud it must be on race day. It was really fun to watch the riders b get all set, and to watch them as they came back from their rides. Although, I was surprised that people’s reactions were fairly reserved. I don’t know if they were just trying to look cool in front of the pit guys or what, but I would’ve been jumping up and down with excitement I think. After the ride we all went over to a bar called the Workingman’s Friend. It was the perfect capper for the real racing experience.