Comments on: Random Thoughts On The 2011 Indianapolis 500 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/ Speed is Life Sat, 18 May 2013 20:57:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: redcar http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7691 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 03:55:01 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7691 He’s driving a Corvette and threatening to “crease” your car? Unless it’s a Ford Pinto, I’m thinking that dude is creasing before you.

And everyone knows ability to skid tires is directly related to I.Q.

]]> By: George http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7690 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:30:04 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7690 HERE’S AN IDEA HOW ABOUT PICKING A FAN TO SAY LADY’S AND GENTLELMEN START YOUR ENGINE’S !
THAT WOULD BE GREAT

]]> By: redcar http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7688 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:37:32 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7688 that’s funny.

]]> By: indygrrl http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7687 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:37:56 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7687 The Make a Wish idea is a good one, but I can see the team sponsors jockeying for position to get their favorite charity (tax write offs) representative in the car and it would end up being some political thing instead of making a wish come true. Wouldn’t you like to be around the meeting table while the suits were all trying to figure out which “illness” would get top billing at Indy.

]]> By: indygrrl http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7686 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:28:56 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7686 Unfortunately it is the non-IndyCar fans that they are trying to “hook” by bringing in some big name stars to participate any way they can. I DO prefer a traditional Star Spangled Banner, but there are some pop stars that can really do it well, I just can’t think of them right now. Lady Gaga:-/ It was like that thing they did a few years ago with Gene Simmons doing “I AM INDY!”

]]> By: Brian http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7685 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:20:34 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7685 I also agree that the Versus presentation of races and the Tuesday shows has been high-quality & admirable BUT Versus lacks market penetration to ‘help propel the sport into prominence.’ I had hoped that IndyCar might be shifted to NBC or that versus would be renamed NBCSports and NBC would HEAVILY promoted the renamed channel…
However, Comcast apparently wants to use hockey and IndyCar to grow interest in Versus, so … that’s not exposing our sport to a wider audience. Home viewers who enjoyed the 500 show on ABC cannot tun in to ABC on June 4, 5, 11, or 12 to see another IndyCar race…

]]> By: Brian http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7684 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:11:09 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7684 Definitely should’ve had one of the armed forces’ chorales’ members sing our anthem in uniform, appropriately, straight, rather than cheese-it-up so that we’re not so puzzled and disgusted at our anthem’s abuse and our non-IndyCar-fan friends and relatives don’t ask us if this ‘performance’ is typical

]]> By: Brian http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7683 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:06:46 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7683 I’d recommend an A-list celebrity, a racing legend such as Mario or A.J., a military serviceman such as a soldier-of-the-year, or a Make-A-Wish type deal.

]]> By: Ron Ford http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7682 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:41:56 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7682 The Go Daddy suit also said that watching IndyCar was like “watching paint dry”. Jerk!

]]> By: SkipinSC http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7681 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:38:53 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/random-thoughts-on-the-2011-indianapolis-500/#comment-7681 George,

Most of your comments on the race are spot-on. Like you, I could not see the flyover, as we were seated in the next to the top row of the lower deck paddock, roughly 150 yards past the yard of bricks. As a result, the “roof” over our head obscured any view of anything high up, including the video boards if you were standing.

It was VERY obvious where, in the opening ceremonies, ABC was at commercial. Everything ground to a halt, and, at one point, Dave Collabro even pointed out that ABC was on “break.”

The PA system was absolutely worthless at the end of the race (or during anytime when there was significant crowd noise.) I was pointing out to my wife that Hildebrand had crashed and still won, until the scoring strip on the aforementioned “roof” told me otherwise. In the excitement, we completely missed Wheldon getting by. I had taken this into account and brought a “Walkman” so I could listen to the IMS network, but, unfortunately, the batteries died early on and, silly me, I did not bring a spare.

In fact, we had to hurry back to our motel in Anderson after the race so as to see what had happened at the end. (Race is broadcast on delay on the Indy ABC affiliate at 7 pm.)

One thing that really surprised us was the difficulty getting into the Speedway for Carb Day. Having watched the event the last few years on TV, I was totally unaware that there were so many in attendance, probably since most of them were hanging out in turn 2 waiting for the concert. We had left the northeast side of town around 9 am, and still completely missed the INDYCAR practice.

In the final analysis, I probably won’t go back again. This was a special year, but much as I love the 500 and am glued to any and all coverage thereof, the trip is simply too long and daunting and the views from my recliner are more all encompassing. I found myself wondering how, when the field would go three wide into turn one, (and out of my view) they would manage to get through without incident.

Yes, taking in all the people, sights and sounds of the bands and early festivities is good and something everyone should experience once in their lifetime. And, yes, it was good to see all the things that the Hulman/George family has done to the place since last I attended a race in 1987. Maybe I would reconsider if I had a friend with a suite, or a motor home to camp out in, but barring those unlikely events, I suspect I’ll be watching from home henceforth.

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