Coochas

I'm surprised there's no thread about it! If you're going to watch one oval race this year, this is the one.
Personally I find the road course racing in Indy comparable if not better than F1 - way more passing and no whining.
As for the 500, I saw this race in person when I was 12 and it has always had a special place in my heart. Qualifying this year was extraordinarily close and was exciting to watch. The race should be a really good one.

So, am I the only one here who cares about the 500?

2025 will mark my 50th anniversary of attending the race. Back then my friend's family (serious gear heads) took me to Indiana in a Winnebago. My wife and I are talking about making a 50th anniversary pilgrimage in an RV and trying to get hold of paddock passes or whatever else is cool access. I'd love to hear from any of you that have had 'backstage passes' at Indy!

ProCoach

It's going to be a classic, a barnburner! So much history, so many personalities.

Tears in my eyes when I drove out onto the road course the first non-Indy Car, non-NASCAR race, the SVRA Brickyard Classic. Before SRO and IMSA, even.

The strategy, skill and execution are amazing to watch during the race. The cars are really fast now. Can't wait.

gbuff

I watched quali and was stunned at the speeds--I saw 242mph on some of the on-board displays they showed....but even more stunning was that the green throttle bar on the telemetry was peened all the way around the track, which tells me that they don't lift AT ALL. Unbelieveable....

chudson

I try and catch them all. Indy, IMSA and F1. On TV that is. And I always watch the 500

Cliff

Veloce Raptor

Yes! But I especially love them on the road courses, and I agree it is much more interesting than F1, with a lot less whining, and spoiled brat syndrome

StoogeMoe

Of course I’ll be watching. Kind of amazing that 230mph was slow this year. Impossible to predict the winner. It’s all going to come down to luck and strategy.

gbuff

I'll be driving to my own personal Mid-Ohio Memorial Day 500 on Sunday, on the trip I'll listen on the radio and dream that Chris Economaki is announcing again (cue up the Twilight Zone theme)

skl

Stopped by IMS when driving through Indy many years ago and toured the museum and did the "bus" lap, and went to the first Indy F1 race in 2000. Have watched the 500 in some form since the late '60's and was thrilled when my hero won it for the first time for the Captain... so yeah, I will be watching, but tape delayed as I can't watch it or Monaco live on Sunday. Will be avoiding the internet until later Monday.

Lots of very interesting story lines- BTW, great interview by MP of TK over at racer.com. Was gutted for Graham- would be a story for the ages if he pulled it off in Stefan's car. Or Santino in AJ's car?????

Nowanker

He was a unique personality, for sure....
I rather enjoyed the Bobby Unser/Sam Posey duo.
They disliked each other, and couldn't keep it from showing.

"No, Sam, YOU'RE WRONG!"
--Bobby Unser

gbuff

Yes, Sam had class and breeding while Bobby and the rest of the Unsers were desert rats

AceMktg

All the way back to Sid Collins & Paul Page on the radio. Tom Carnegie at the track with "and it is a new track record".

skl

Speaking of Paul Page, I just read his autobiography from Octane Press. Very interesting, and he's seen it all!! Recommend it if you're a big Indy fan.

PTSFX

I watch every year and have gone in person twice (most recently last year). I much prefer IRL over F1, and the 500 is absolutely a must-see in person if you are a motorsports fan.

Once I’m retired we plan to do the RV thing and go for two weeks to the road course race, qualifying and 500. The people of Indianapolis couldn’t be nicer, they do a great job with Memorial Day events the day after, and the downtown area is great with multiple parks and museums within walking distance.

My favorite seats are outside of T1 so you can see all the way down the front stretch and over to T2.

Nowanker

Always curious about Paul Page.
Seemed like he was utterly without a clue...
Back in the CART days, race from Australia. Fittipaldi just made a *****-out pass, but overshot the chicane in the process.
Followed by Page shouting:
"He's forgotten where the track goes!"
I figured he must have owned ABC...

Robert Nixon

The Indy 500 is always a big deal I think!
When I was stationed in Indianapolis late 80s, we played out there regularly during May, and marched around the track at 8am on race day with the other bands, once in the rain!
One year they let us up in the tower for the start of the race, that was pretty exciting!