Rant: Indy 500

[jim]

What the hell? I was so looking forward to the last few laps and it ends on a caution. They want more fans? Then make a rule that the last 2 laps have to be completed on a green. That was exceptionally disappointing.

[MrCrowesGarden]

I think the rule is they get one shot at a green-white-checkered finish if a caution comes out within the last 10 laps. They had a caution come out with 8 laps to go, then the one with 4. It's disappointing, but I think Kanaan winning eases some of the sting.

[stlouie_lipp]

I was thinking of starting an Indy 500 thread earlier today. I remember when it was a "thing". Not so much anymore.

[jim]

I think the rule is they get one shot at a green-white-checkered finish if a caution comes out within the last 10 laps. They had a caution come out with 8 laps to go, then the one with 4. It's disappointing, but I think Kanaan winning eases some of the sting.

I think they should change it to where you have to have the last two laps on a green. Great that Kanaan won, but with the dynamics of today's race (nobody could hold a lead) I was really looking forward to how things played out. I thought Kanaan screwed up going for the lead after the previous yellow, because I thought it would end almost like a bike race where you don't want to be leading down the last stretch. But low and behold it was a fortunate move.

And yeah lipp, it used to mean more for sure but I still enjoy it. I remember as a kid on the playground that's all we talked about for the week leading up to it. We all had our favorite (A.J. = 14 was mine). My wife and son and I just agreed actually though that we should make a weekend of it next year, so maybe I'll make it over there next year.

My Dad told me a great story last weekend. 1950 - he was 15 - he saved his lunch money all year and got a bus ticket from Springfield, IL to Indy two weeks before the race to see the time trials and buy a ticket for the race. Went by himself. He left at 7am, and he figured he would be at the track at noon. He said the damn bus stopped at every po-dunk town on the way, even stopping in the middle of the road, and he arrived at 5pm. He bought his ticket for the time trial and the race in two weeks, and watched two guys qualify. Left the track at 6pm and found out the only bus heading toward Springfield would only take him to Terre Haute. He gets into Terre Haute and finds a motel (my how times have changed - renting a room to a 15 year old) and calls his folks.

-- Dad, I'm in Terre Haute.
-- What in the HELL are you doing in Terre Haute?
-- Well, I wanted to see the time trials.
....

Didn't go well with the parents, but unbelievably they let him go to the race again in 2 weeks because a local tavern had bus going to Indy that left the day before the race. Included food and beer, and of course being 1950 15 year olds were allowed to drink. Bus gets 5 miles out of town in Springfield and over heats, the driver manages to get the bus going, and they get into Indy at 2am instead of the scheduled 8pm. He said people were lit, including himself. He sat on turn 2 - he said back then the stands were on the inside of the turn for safety reasons and you really couldn't see all that much but he had the time of his life.

He went back in 1951 with the same bus company (why not, beer to a 16 year old?) and then took my Mom with him in 1952 (she was 16, he was 17). They got married in 1953 and celebrated their 60th this past April.

My Dad told me last weekend he wanted to go back, and I'd like to make that happen. When we go next year I'm going to try to figure out a way to get my Mom and Dad to go.

Writing the story won't come out like my Dad told it, he had me howling laughing at times the way he described his parents reaction and some other details. I knew he went without his parents permission, but until last weekend I didn't know the details. For that reason I watched the race even more closely this year.

[docellis]

I think that little rookie who came in 2nd would have won if they hadn't ended on a caution. Also, very surprised that at least 4 women were racing.

[Spider John]

I was thinking of starting an Indy 500 thread earlier today. I remember when it was a "thing". Not so much anymore.

I guess it's human nature to think things were better when you were a kid, but I grew up watching the legends like Foyt, Unser, and Andretti, but even some of the lesser names such as Ongais, Sneva, Johncock, had a mystique about them. I still watch the race, but more because of what it used to be that what it is now.

If you're looking for a great finish to the Indy 500....

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