Reader here, and this weekend is one of my favourite weekends of the year.
For our neighbours to the south, it’s Memorial Day weekend, but for me, it means the return of one of my favourite sporting events, the 190th running of the Indianapolis 500.
I know Formula One is the sexy worldwide racing series, while NASCAR is a juggernaut in North America, but I’ve always been an IndyCar guy since I saw my first 500, back in 1986, at my friend Tim Phillips’ house. Eight-year-old Reader was cheering for the iconic Mario Andretti, while Tim was rooting for Mario’s son Michael. In the end, Bobby Rahal came through to get his one and only win at the Brickyard as a driver.
I’ve been hooked on IndyCar ever since, and my brothers and I have been fans for years. Over the year’s, we’ve seen live races in both Vancouver and Edmonton, but my ultimate dream would be to join 300,000-plus friends in Speedway, Indiana, for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing!”
I’ve always cheered for many of the great Canadian IndyCar drivers, from Paul Tracy, to the late, great Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani and my favourite, James Hinchcliffe, who has done a bang-up job in the broadcast booth over the past few seasons.
Only one Canadian has ever won the 500 – Jacques Villeneuve did it in 1995, on his way to the series championship, before leaving for F1.
Another of my all-time favourite drivers is a member of the famous Unser family, Al Unser Junior. His Dad, Al Senior is one of just four four-time winners of the 500, while his Uncle Bobby was taken the checkered flag at Indy on three occasions. “Little Al” won the 500 twice, in 1992 and 1994. His ’92 victory, where he just beat Canadian Scott Goodyear to the finish line, by .043 of a second, remains the closest finish in Indy 500 history.
What a beautiful paint job on that car, right?
In victory. Al Jr. said it best, when he uttered those immortal words, “You just don’t know what Indy means.”
Beyond the race itself, there are the traditions that make the Indy 500 so great.
Being the Memorial Day weekend, those who served, fought and died for America are honoured with the serene sounds of “Taps,” honoring the brave.
Then, the lead-up continues with the classic singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana” – it’s like a musical hug for every fan. For the last few years, Chicago Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison has sung that tune, but no one ever did it better than Gomer Pyle himself, the legendary Jim Nabors!
And who could forget the classic wreath and milk toast for the winner? A refreshing sip after a high-speed victory – cheers to that!
Every year, the drivers submit their milk preference, in case they are fortunate enough to wind up in victory lane.
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden has won the last two Indy 500s, but he starts this year’s race from the back row. He’ll have some work to do, if he wants to make it three in a row.
The front row features a rookie – PREMA Racing’s Robert Shwartzman starting from the pole position, and he’ll be joined on Row One by 48-year-old two-time Indy winner Takuma Sato, of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, while McLaren’s Pato O’Ward will start third.
It’s always so cool to see 11 rows of three cars flying into the first turn when the green flag flies. At the end of 500 miles on Sunday, who will race their way into immortality? I can’t wait to find out!
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