Indy 500

I've got tickets and am going for the first time this year, who else is headed there? And what is the parking situation like?

I recall when the world stopped for the Indy 500 for like two whole weeks. There was rookie day, there was carb tuning day, there was qualifying days, pretty sre there was a girls in bikinis day and who the hell remembers what else days. Then Tony took over and I have not seen a race. For that matter, is CART still a thing?

Please post your impressions of the event.

I remember when Indy was a month long event. Teams would show up at the beginning of May and every weekend was a qualifying event. I used to drive over from Purdue during the week of finals. It was $5 to get into the track and every.thing was open. You could stroll through the garage, pits, stand behind the pit wall fence or sit in any grandstand seat. You could see drivers and teams up close. One of the most memorable moments was sitting halfway through turn one, in the first row. You could stick your head and camera through the fence and see the cars coming down the front strait, right at you. They would veer left and fly through the turn faster than your head could follow. The sound, smell and speed were intoxicating. I left Indiana in '84 and my last 500 was in '92, the coldest Indy 500.

I'm going - sitting in crappy seats my friend bought along pit lane (called "pit road terrace"). I park at Speedway High School. It's generally pretty easy to get in and out of and the money you pay goes to a good cause, supporting the athletic programs of the school. It's also a paved lot and they don't box you in, something that's not true about virtually all other IMS parking options. The other parking options are the "coke lot" which is a total shirtshow, peoples lawns along Georgetown road or in the town of speedway west of the track, or if you get there early, the "North 40" a giant long skinny mess of a lot to the north of the track.

I've gone every year since 2010 except 2012, when I was in the hospital, and last year when I had to go to my future brother in law's bachelor party.

I've done 20 Indy 500's. Parking? Show up early.

I remember freezing in 1992 too. One year I attended the race and never "saw" the race. I bought a $10 infield pass and did some major partying that year.

My dad was a fireman in the pits - mid 1970's until early 1980's when a guy got burned. He said it was a rush to be standing in the pits. He is on the far right bottom corner with his arms folded in the yellow shirt. I took the picture from the stands - my first year. AJ Foyt and the Delta 88 pace car.

Datsun310Guy wrote: My dad was a fireman in the pits - mid 1970's until early 1980's when a guy got burned. He said it was a rush to be standing in the pits. He is on the far right bottom corner with his arms folded in the yellow shirt. I took the picture from the stands - my first year. AJ Foyt and the Delta 88 pace car.

I've made two, '83 and '91 The latter was the ultimate front row, Mears, Foyt, and Andretti.

(And right in front of your dad is Linda Vaughn. Well, her car...)

Parking? Yes...I parked at the Indy airport and took the bus in. As I recall it was the best $5 each way I ever spent.

They need another turbine car. It's a spec series now where it should be experimental stuff.

And Evel Is on the motorcycle