The Indianapolis 500

Irish#1

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Come on Daly, gotta root for the hometown boy. Also wouldn’t be upset if Pato brought it home
That’s where I’m at, but I’m not sure either will get it with 20 laps to go. Ericcson is on good tires and has the fuel.
 

SeekNDestroy

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Convinced people like F1 more only bc it has this snobby European cache attached to it. The Indycar and NASCAR races are always much more fun to watch.
Speaking of “snobby European,” when Indianapolis hosted the US Grand Prix from 2000-2007, the owner of F1 (Bernie Ecclestone) refused to stay in Indy because Indy didn’t have any hotels up to his standard.* Instead, he would stayed in Chicago and flew back and forth each day.

*I believe he may have stayed at the Conrad Hilton after it was built in 2006.
 

rikkitikki08

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Speaking of “snobby European,” when Indianapolis hosted the US Grand Prix from 2000-2007, the owner of F1 (Bernie Ecclestone) refused to stay in Indy because Indy didn’t have any hotels up to his standard.* Instead, he would stayed in Chicago and flew back and forth each day.

*I believe he may have stayed at the Conrad Hilton after it was built in 2006.
IMS is to good for a douche like that. The charm of speedway and the 500 is you’re going to be sitting next to people from all walks of life.

Funny story, my kids are too small to take to the 500 so we went and walked around outside the track on carb day. My 4 year old boy got to witness a grown man in a speedo passed out in a beach chair on the corner of 25th and Georgetown. I told him he had to much chocolate milk lol
 

MacIrish75

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IMS is to good for a douche like that. The charm of speedway and the 500 is you’re going to be sitting next to people from all walks of life.

Funny story, my kids are too small to take to the 500 so we went and walked around outside the track on carb day. My 4 year old boy got to witness a grown man in a speedo passed out in a beach chair on the corner of 25th and Georgetown. I told him he had to much chocolate milk lol
Part of what makes the 500 great is the fact that you have the Snake Pit going on simultaneously while the race is happening. As a Snake Pit veteran, the 500 is like nothing else on Earth.
 

MacIrish75

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IMS is to good for a douche like that. The charm of speedway and the 500 is you’re going to be sitting next to people from all walks of life.

Funny story, my kids are too small to take to the 500 so we went and walked around outside the track on carb day. My 4 year old boy got to witness a grown man in a speedo passed out in a beach chair on the corner of 25th and Georgetown. I told him he had to much chocolate milk lol
I can’t wait to take my (also 4 year old) son. We’ll probably try the Michigan NASCAR race first, since you can see the cars all the way around the track. The first time I went to a non 500/Brickyard race I was astounded that at *most* tracks you didn’t lose sight of the cars for half the race.
 

drayer54

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Part of what makes the 500 great is the fact that you have the Snake Pit going on simultaneously while the race is happening. As a Snake Pit veteran, the 500 is like nothing else on Earth.
We hit the pit for an hour or two this morning. Always a sight to see!

Two years in a row that I nailed the wining pick! Crappy start, but great race!
 

Irish#1

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Part of what makes the 500 great is the fact that you have the Snake Pit going on simultaneously while the race is happening. As a Snake Pit veteran, the 500 is like nothing else on Earth.
Glad they revived the Snake Pit. Back in my day it was in turn 1 and it was pretty much anything goes. Lots of ladies willing to raise their tops. You could also count on a sofa or two and a car being left behind after the race. Lol

Eccelstone had no respect for IMS and its history. IMS was as happy to get rid of him.
 

Irish2155

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So does my O’Ward podium bet payout now that Erickson’s car failed post race inspection?
 

StPaul_Irish

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I can’t wait to take my (also 4 year old) son. We’ll probably try the Michigan NASCAR race first, since you can see the cars all the way around the track. The first time I went to a non 500/Brickyard race I was astounded that at *most* tracks you didn’t lose sight of the cars for half the race.

I am a BIG F1 guy, but I have heard that NASCAR races are a thing to behold.
 

MacIrish75

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I am a BIG F1 guy, but I have heard that NASCAR races are a thing to behold.
People tend to think of Open-Wheeled racing as being a class above NASCAR in terms of the clientele…but I assure you the debauchery of the 500 is above any NASCAR race, but also with some super high class folks in the suites and the Pagoda. The 500 basically covers every socioeconomic cross section of America.

The thing that sucks about the 500 is just not being able to see the cars the whole time. It was weird being able to watch the whole race the first time I went to Michigan.

The 500 is a mix of Miller Lite & Keystone
NASCAR is Busch Light
F1 is Peroni
 

StPaul_Irish

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People tend to think of Open-Wheeled racing as being a class above NASCAR in terms of the clientele…but I assure you the debauchery of the 500 is above any NASCAR race, but also with some super high class folks in the suites and the Pagoda. The 500 basically covers every socioeconomic cross section of America.

The thing that sucks about the 500 is just not being able to see the cars the whole time. It was weird being able to watch the whole race the first time I went to Michigan.

The 500 is a mix of Miller Lite & Keystone
NASCAR is Busch Light
F1 is Peroni

I really want to get to a NASCAR race.
 

Irish2155

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People tend to think of Open-Wheeled racing as being a class above NASCAR in terms of the clientele…but I assure you the debauchery of the 500 is above any NASCAR race, but also with some super high class folks in the suites and the Pagoda. The 500 basically covers every socioeconomic cross section of America.

The thing that sucks about the 500 is just not being able to see the cars the whole time. It was weird being able to watch the whole race the first time I went to Michigan.

The 500 is a mix of Miller Lite & Keystone
NASCAR is Busch Light
F1 is Peroni
Top of turn 3 is the best spot in IMS if you hope to see the whole track fyi. Might be the only spot, actually.

My buddy reorders the same seats up there every year to get the full view and I’ve watched a couple of races from the top of turn 3 with him.
 

FU BK

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We've had brickyard tickets since the initial lottery was done back in 93...we were the 1st section to the left of the tunnel in the shortchute. Didn't mind there cause you could see a little of main straight...1 and 2....and could see down most of backstraight...and roofs in between 3 and 4. Went to the 1st US grand prix in 2000....holy shit was that a different set of folks.
 

FU BK

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I am a BIG F1 guy, but I have heard that NASCAR races are a thing to behold.
Just curious....what's the big appeal for you to F1? I've been to 2 F1 races, and for me as a racing fan, they're a distant fourth to Indy, Na$car, and hell even dirt...sprint, midget racing. I think the thing that has turned me off is the lack of parody they have in the series, which is different this year with McLaren and Red Bull both battling. The Mercedes dominance early in this turbo era was quite the yawner.
 

Irish#1

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Record $20 million payout this year. Palou earned $3.8 million from a purse of $20,283,000. Largest total purse of all time. 500's total winnings set a record for the fourth year in a row. Average payout was $596,500. Pato got $951,000 for 3rd.

Top of turn 1 is premium seating, but you'd be hard pressed to get those. For the 500 or 400, sitting in one of the turns is the best option. Back in the 80's I had tix right in front of the pits just past the starting line and 20 rows back. I was pumped only to get quickly disappointed during the race because all I could see was what occurred right in front of me.

I've been to the Brickyard 400 several times and enjoyed it, but if I were to attend another, it would be one of the smaller tracks like Bristol.

Hated to see Larson not be able to compete better. Sounds like he won't try to run the 500 & 600 anymore.
 

StPaul_Irish

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Just curious....what's the big appeal for you to F1? I've been to 2 F1 races, and for me as a racing fan, they're a distant fourth to Indy, Na$car, and hell even dirt...sprint, midget racing. I think the thing that has turned me off is the lack of parody they have in the series, which is different this year with McLaren and Red Bull both battling. The Mercedes dominance early in this turbo era was quite the yawner.

You make a legit argument, but I stand by that F1 drivers are the best in the world. Case in point: Marcus Ericsson...

- INDY: 97 Starts, 4 wins and 12 Podiums
- F1: 97 Starts 0 wins, 0 podiums and a total of 18 career points

When drivers "wash out" of F1, some will go to INDY. I have never heard for a driver going the other way (I could be wrong)
Now, don't get it twisted, I really like Nascar, Indy and yes dirt track racing (take my son all the time). I just prefer F1 for the speed, drama and all that comes with it. Hope that answers your question

Late Edit: Forgot to mention, I can't imagine a guy like Jimmie Johnson (fantastic driver) racing F1 in his mid/late 40s like he did with INDY.
 
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FU BK

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You make a legit argument, but I stand by that F1 drivers are the best in the world. Case in point: Marcus Ericsson...

- INDY: 97 Starts, 4 wins and 12 Podiums
- F1: 97 Starts 0 wins, 0 podiums and a total of 18 career points

When drivers "wash out" of F1, some will go to INDY. I have never heard for a driver going the other way (I could be wrong)
Now, don't get it twisted, I really like Nascar, Indy and yes dirt track racing (take my son all the time). I just prefer F1 for the speed, drama and all that comes with it. Hope that answers your question

Late Edit: Forgot to mention, I can't imagine a guy like Jimmie Johnson (fantastic driver) racing F1 in his mid/late 40s like he did with INDY.
Very valid points. I watch F1, but usually turn it off by mid race cause someone already has a 20-30 second lead. Jimmy Johnson should of simply retired and never of went to Indy car, or go back to NASCAR for that matter. Trying to go back in the Gen 7 hasn't done him any favors....and no in Toyota no less.
 

StPaul_Irish

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Very valid points. I watch F1, but usually turn it off by mid race cause someone already has a 20-30 second lead. Jimmy Johnson should of simply retired and never of went to Indy car, or go back to NASCAR for that matter. Trying to go back in the Gen 7 hasn't done him any favors....and no in Toyota no less.

I fully admit that some F1 races are boring. Monaco for example. With the size of the cars not and the speed, it is nearly impossible to overtake. One of my buddies said it best, Qualifying is the race. I really enjoy racing, I was/am a hockey player, but my 7 year old son LOVES cars and racing. We regularly let him race go carts (takes some convincing of the staff, but once they let him driver w/ adults, they love it).
 
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