If you are reading this on Tuesday morning, I am on my way back to IMS for the week of practice for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Susan has to work some this week and she’s not quite as keen on watching cars go around a track for four days as I am. I will be at the track today, Wednesday and (most of) Thursday, and will drive back to Nashville Thursday night. After spending Thursday night in Nashville, Susan and I will drive back up Friday morning and (hopefully) arrive in time for the start of Fast Friday. It used to be that I would come up on Tuesday and fly Susan up Thursday night. But with me being retired and the cost of air travel, that option is no longer in our budget.
I first attended the full week of practice in 2018. I missed 2020 and 2021, but I think those may be the only two years I’ve missed. The Tuesday through Thursday practice days are some of my favorite days of the month. The place is pretty much empty those days – and that means fans, as well as media. The IMS Media Center has seats for roughly 400 media members on Race Day. I’m guessing there might be 25 people there at any given time during practice week. The pits are empty, the Garage Area is empty and the gift shops and concession stands are empty. It’s almost a ghost town as you can move around freely all week.
When I say the garage and pit area are empty, that doesn’t count the teams. They are still running around like crazy, but they have very few people bothering them. The mob will arrive on Friday and it will be even worse on Saturday.
Not only do I enjoy the sparse crowds of Practice Week, it’s just enjoyable all the way around. It’s a great time to explore the grounds. Many of the stands are open, and it’s a good chance to check out different vantage points to watch the race from, in case I ever get the urge to move. No offense to m better half, but if feel like going to another section of the track, I get up and move. I don’t need to convince her why I want to go elsewhere.
The mid-afternoon lull from about 2-3 is always a good time to just sit in the stands, with just a couple of cars on track. I would be lying if I said I’ve never nodded off in the stands at that time. How can you sleep with race cars going by? Trust me, it’s easy. That’s also a good time to roam the garage area to find out who is happy and unhappy with their cars. I don’t fool myself into thinking I am a reporter, but I have learned a lot over the years just wandering and listening.
Some may agree with Susan and think what I’m doing is right up there with watching paint dry, but those first three days will fly by. I’m always amazed how quickly each day passes.
I was undecided if I would attend practice this year, but I am staying where I stayed for the test a couple of weeks ago, and it’s cheap. Given the fact that I am retired from my day job, why wouldn’t I go. Getting Susan up there by Friday is the rough spot, but I can rest next week while there is no track activity.
For those that are entranced by IMS like I am, you can watch all six hours every day live. Practice starts each day at Noon EDT and runs until 6:00 pm EDT. Tueday, Wednesday and Thursday, the coverage will be on FS2 from Noon until 4:00 pm EDT, then will switch over the FS1 for the remaining two hours. On Fast Friday, The coverage will run on FS2 from Noon until 3:00 pm EDT, then switch over to FS from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, then back to FS2 for the final hour from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm EDT.
I plan to have end-of-day reports with some major updates throughout each day, but I will still have traditional Month-of-May postings here each morning. Unfortunately, any photos I post will be with my phone, and not Susan’s “real” camara.
If you have the time, even if coming from out of town like me, try and make it to IMS sometime this week – and you’ll see how enjoyable it is and just what exactly I’m talking about. It’s the Month of May in Indianapolis. That’s all that needs to be said.
George Phillips
