More, More, More!

For the past several years, I've been looking 

for a good seat from which I can watch the races.

I wander, looking for place where I can see

the cars as they speed by. However, after having spent 

each May for twenty years standing inside 

Turn One to take pictures, I've not found a one 

that equals the view I had there.

To build the road course, the creek inside Turn One 

was covered over and paved, and bleachers were 

removed to create the carousel for the motorcycles.

Hulman Boulevard, which bisects the infield 

north to south, becomes a section of

the road course that can be seen from viewer 

mounds or from concrete barriers

such as the one this little boy and his mother

are sitting on. In fact, the barriers seemed to be pretty

popular viewing spots for children, supported

by their parents, to stand to get a good, close view

of the cars as they enter a series of small turns

on their way back to the main track.

Just behind the mother and boy, the NASCAR haulers

were parked, by order of championship points.

Currently, five-time champion Jimmy Johnson is leading,

so the hauler of his car is first in order, 

on the left. If there are any changes after tomorrow's

Brickyard 400, they will be reflected in the 

trucks' line-up at the next race.

This is the view passers by on 16th Street have 

of the inside of the Speedway. The large building

at the center is the Pagoda scoring and media

center for the track. The scoring pylon can be seen,

poking up from above the main grandstand about 

a fifth of the way from the center left of the picture.

The South Short Chute is just on the other

side of the concrete wall in the middle of the picture.

All one can see of the cars is, maybe a roof top

on a stock car. However, one can see cars as they enter

Turn One from the Front Straight. Whoo-hoo!

By the way, the Pagoda is the tallest 

building in the town of Speedway. 

This was my view Saturday afternoon of the starting grid 

for the Rolex Grand Am race. I love the sound of those cars, 

an intriguing mix of growl and purr that's seductive. 

When I entertain fantasies of driving a race car, 

these are the ones I choose. Every time.

I've always felt that these guys were the elite 

of race car drivers because they were good for the distance,

for their staying power. Conversely, drag racing has

always seemed to be all braggadocio and display

with four seconds of action - Pfft! and done.

And ... more, more, more ... lame.