The “greatest spectacle of racing” is just what it implies. The Indy 500, and all it encompasses, is worthy of the title. It is much more than a car race.
I was fortunate to once gain obtain a Journal Review media pass for this year’s race. To watch all the activities from the media center, which is just to the north of the pagoda, is an experience not afforded to the average 500 race fan.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway personnel work hard at being good hosts no matter what news outlet you are from. The Journal Review gets the same attention as the Indianapolis media for instance.
I was able to take one of our two high school interns with me as our photographer. Tristan Newlin, who graduated from North Montgomery High School on Saturday, was able to experience and see first-hand many of the “back stage” activities and how a media center works for an international event.
The media center is a pot of people from all across the globe.
Right behind our seats in the packed media center was the Brazilian press. Their eight members were obviously excited about the race as they talked about activities in Portuguese.
To show how diverse the newsroom is, right beside the Journal Review space was a Purdue employee whose only job was to make social media posts for the university.
A man sitting to our left worked for an online racing website that is based in St. Louis but lives in Indianapolis. He did not stay in the media center for the race. He buys a ticket each year in Turn 2. He said he feels he needs to be in the crowd to feel the energy provided by the 350,000 race fans.
I understand his thoughts on not staying inside the media center where you can barely hear 33 cars roar down the straight away over the yard of bricks headed to Turn 1. During the impressive pre-race ceremonies, I always go outside on a balcony of the media center to see and hear the events happening. When the call of “Gentlemen, start your engines” rings out, I still get goosebumps like I did at the first race I attended in 1973.
The pomp and circumstance associated with honoring the men and women who have sacrificed their lives since the Revolutionary War up to today’s global war on terrorism is always first class. IMS makes sure Memorial Day Weekend is a big part of what goes on at the track. It always amazes me how 350,000 fans can stop and become silent in respect during the 16-gun salute and a single bugle playing TAPS.
From the singing of “America the Beautiful” to the singing of the National Anthem and the F-16 jet flyover, it all is simply a tradition that makes everyone proud to be an American.
And, of course, when “Back Home Again in Indiana” is sung, you can hear the voices of many in the crowd singing along.
Being a fan of THE Indiana State University, my favorite line in the state song is “That gleaming candlelight still shining bright through the Sycamores for me.” I bet you did not know that line is where the ISU athletic teams took their knick name. But that is another story, let me get back to the race.
Once the race starts the information boards in the media center keep everyone informed on what is going on. We also had the Fox Sports broadcast being aired on over 100 monitors attached to the ceiling above the rows of seating.
I enjoyed taking Tristan to the track for his first time as a media person even though it met leaving Crawfordsville at 5 a.m. Our stroll through Gasoline Alley was enlightening to him. His camera was clicking often. He said he had fun. I think what he liked best, however, was all the free food and drinks provided to the media. After all, he is a growing 18-year old young man.
I was able to shake the hand of WTHR TV weatherman Chuck Lofton and thank him for his many years of service. Lofton is retiring soon and I for one will miss him.
When I go to the Indy 500 as a media person, I feel fortunate. I am one of those who has fond childhood memories of attending the qualifications with family. I have seen historical moments like Parnelli Jones qualifying the turbine powered car in the 1967. I saw Jim Hurtubise attempt to qualify his front engine car for the last time in 1981. I was at the race the day two North Montgomery cheerleaders were severely burned from a car crash when flames exploded into the area they were sitting. I remember the shock I felt hearing the names of two friends on the drive home on the car radio.
Memories are a treasure, whether good or bad.
Like many Hoosiers, I will forever respect and love the Indy 500. It is much more than a race in May. It does not disappoint.
Bob Cox is the Journal Review sports coordinator.
