It’s Race Day at Gateway
Good afternoon from a sunny and pleasant World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, just across the river from St. Louis. Like Pocono, there are several vintage cars here. Unfortunately, they ran on the track just before qualifying yesterday and one dropped oil all over the track. There was still lots of oil-dry down on the track when qualifying started and the first ten or so drivers that went out claim that their runs were affected. From what I’ve heard, Conor Daly and Marco Andretti have legitimate gripes, but some of the drivers may just be clinging to an excuse. After all, there’s a reason they were going first anyway.
Whether or not they should run on tracks is up for debate, but I love seeing these cars – mostly because I saw a lot of them run when they were new. I guess that makes me vintage as well. love seeing and hearing the Lotus 56 turbine-powered IndyCar. I saw one of these cars win the pole in 1968 with Joe Leonard driving it, and it quickly became one of my all-time favorite cars. I was pulling for that car to win, but it flamed out on the last re-start.
They have an assortment of vintage cars, from roadsters to cars from the 80s and even the Roger Yasukawa G-Force/Panoz from 2004.
My biggest disappointment came when we went across the track to the fan village. The fan village itself wasn’t a disappointment, but it was what was lacking among the multitude of concession stands.
Throughout all the stands, there was not one breaded pork tenderloin sandwich to be found. Last year, I never went looking for one, but two years ago I had one and it was delicious. I literally went from stand-to-stand looking at each menu. One person even stuck his head out and asked what I was looking for. When I told him, he shook his head and said he had never heard of it. If I was back home in Nashville, I’d believe it. But this is Illinois – right in the heart of tenderloin country. As Sherriff Taggert once said – I am depressed.
It feels warmer than what the temperature says. My phone says it is 78°, but out on the large expanse of asphalt behind the large grandstands where the fan village is located – it feels much hotter. But it still looks like it will be a great night for racing.
That will do it for now. Susan may (or may not) have a post up here later today before the race. Then check back tonight after the race for a wrap-up, and then I will have my usual Random Thoughts article on Monday. Meanwhile, please follow us on Twitter. You may follow me at @Oilpressureblog and Susan at @MrsOilpressure. Please check back later.
George Phillips
Oilpressure 
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