HAMMOND, IN: Another Month of May has come and gone at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s really hard to believe that, for the 58th consecutive year, it’s now time for this observer to reflect on what took place during the running of the most challenging 500 miles in motorsports, the Indianapolis 500; 2014 Edition.
As we made the long, steep climb to our Grandstand B, top row Penthouse seats high above Turn One Sunday morning we wondered, between desperate gasps for air, what would happen today to make this 98th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” unique. So here, in no particular order, are a few things that left an impression that we’ll be filing away in what’s left of our memory banks:
1. It was truly an honor to watch the great Parnelli Jones, the best driver I ever personally saw race at the Speedway, climb aboard one of the 1968 STP Lotus-Turbines for a ceremonial lap prior to the 500. Just the fact that he’s still around and obviously ready for another 500 miles makes me smile. Big time.
2. Jim Nabors: what can you say? When he first appeared at the Speedway 42 years ago to sing, “Back Home Again in Indiana”, he was merely “Gomer” from TV; an actor with a amazing voice. But, over the decades, he’s become so much more. He became…a Hoosier. Talk about a tough act to follow!
3. Big crowd! From our view high overlooking Turn One, this appeared to be the biggest turnout in years. Not a lot of empty Grandstand seats. The infield crowd inside Turn Three was reminiscent of the rowdy throng that used to gather in the Turn One Snakepit in days of yore. As always, beautiful weather always helps, too!
4. One negative: nobody’s “smart phone” seemed to be working properly. Everyone around me, as well as other folks in different locations on the grounds, experienced “issues” trying to access radio stations, IndyCar timing and scoring, weather, etc. If communications giant Verizon is going to be the title sponsor of IndyCar racing, they really should make it a priority to insure that their own phones work properly on the Speedway grounds. I mean…what fun is “social media” if you can’t socialize?
5. The guy starting in the middle of the front row, James Hinchcliffe, won the race to lead the first lap. It’s not too often that the number two starter takes the initial lead. Strangely enough, one other time it happen was 1956, when Jim Rathmann blasted from front row center to lead. It was my first Race. Who says you can’t go back again?
6. Veteran Townsend Bell had a memorable day. For a part-time racer, he sure runs the hell out of the Speedway! His charge to the top five was amazing to behold. Too bad it got away from him at the end. Townsend Bell deserved better.
7. With 25 laps to go, Turn One was the place to be as the afore mentioned Mr. Bell attempted an outside pass on popular Ed Carpenter. Unfortunately, James Hinchcliffe made an ill-advised move to the inside to create a three-abreast situation entering the turn, taking himself and Carpenter into the fence and out of the Race. Sad. Ed had driven a nearly prefect race up to that point, and was in solid contention to win.
8. Mikhail Aleshin is one brave Russian! From our perspective, nobody drove a harder race. There was one period of several laps when Charlie Kimball and Aleshin were really “having at each other” Fortunately, they both got away with it, but to say it was “hairy” to watch would be an understatement!
9. The Red Flag: No one really saw this coming. Was it a good idea? Probably. Does it do a disservice to all the racers from past history who could have benefitted from a red flag? Probably. Did it create a better, more exiting finish for the fans? Probably.
10. Rookie of the Year: Kurt Busch. It’s been talked about plenty during the month, but we think it’s safe to say that what Busch accomplished is totally amazing. Back when Indy Car drivers and stock car drivers would often intermingle, the chance to earn a better income was usually the main motivation for the competitors. In the case of Kurt Busch, however, it obvious that his motivation to race in the Indianapolis 500 came from a different place. His personality may be a bit hard to take at times, but that does nothing to change the fact that Kurt Busch is one of the greatest racers of his generation. He proved it Sunday. Sadly, Kurt’s NASCAR ride at Charlotte blew up, giving him a total racing distance covered Sunday of “only” 906 miles! If Busch’s participation in the 500 triggers future attempts at “cross-pollination” between NASCAR and IndyCar, how can that be a bad thing?
11. Congrats to American Ryan Hunter-Reay. He ran a nearly perfect race, moving smoothly from 19th starting position to contend for the lead throughout the second half of the event. Anyone who runs a race like Hunter-Reay did Sunday should be rewarded. And, he was.
12. Helio Castroneves: Post race: A picture is worth 1000 words. When Helio returned to the pits after the checkered flag, the all-seeing TV cameras were in position to capture his anguish after loosing his attempt to score his fourth 500 victory by inches. I immediately experienced one of my frequent flashbacks: it was 1961 again, and the great Eddie Sachs had just lost a certain trip to Victory Lane at the last minute to young A.J. Foyt. His look of sadness that day, as he sat alone in his Dean Van Lines roadster, made it obvious how much Indianapolis meant to him. It was a look I never thought I’d see again. And, I never did.
Until last Sunday…
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