I am going to insert myself into this a little bit, but when it’s my website, I guess I can do whatever I want. As I sit and type this in our hotel room on Monday morning, I am still amazed at what we witnessed yesterday. I’ve been to a lot of Indianapolis 500s in my lifetime, but I’ve also missed more than I care to admit – including a twenty-year gap between 1972 and 1992. If you look at those dates, you’ll notice that I was never there when the first four-time winners won their fourth. In fact, I never saw Rick Mears win any of his races.
Archive for May, 2021
Random Thoughts on the Indianapolis 500
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 31, 2021 by OilpressureIndianapolis 500 Wrap-Up
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 2021 by Oilpressure
Not only was the finish of the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 one of the most exciting I’ve seen in a while, this was a very popular win. It has been forty-four years since AJ Foyt became the first four-time winner. Ten years later, Al Unser joined the club. Just four years later, Rick Mears became the third four-time winner in 1991.
My Race to the Finish Line
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 2021 by Oilpressure
By Susan Phillips
I can’t believe I made it! Almost eleven months ago, I was definitely facing an uncertain future–and here I am at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making future plans when you have pancreatic cancer is like making a bet that you will be here. I reserved our golf carts at Road America in February—You have to bet on yourself and your will to survive. That sounds dramatic, but that is probably what the drivers face when they get in a race car. They have the heart and the will to get in their cars and rely on their skill to get them safely to the end of the race—and victory.
It’s Race Day for the 2021 Indianapolis 500
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 2021 by Oilpressure
Good morning from a chilly and still dark (but dry) Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was 44° driving in this morning. Some are comparing this to Race Day in 1992. I was here that day, and I don’t think it’s going to be near that bad. For one thing, the sun never came out that cold and windy day. I’m not sure the temperature ever got above 55° that day.
Carb Day on Ice
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2021 by Oilpressure
When we awoke this morning, it was warm and in the 70s. That was the high temperature of the day. By the time we got to the track for the delayed practice, the temperature had dropped to 56°. when the rains came to end the two hour practice with a little more than five minutes to go, my phone said it was 55°.
Welcome to a Delayed Carb Day
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2021 by Oilpressure
Welcome to a damp, but drying Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We awoke to rainy skies and warm temperatures (74-degrees). We lounged around and went to check into our regular hotel for the weekend, knowing that there was no way they could start practice on time at 11:00 am.
Indianapolis 500 Preview
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2021 by Oilpressure
For the past few years, Susan and I have driven up on the Thursday night before Carb Day and stayed on the outskirts of Indianapolis so that we could get to the track early. Then we go check into our regular hotel for the weekend. With nothing going on besides the two-hour practice today, we decided weeks ago that we were not going to do that this year. As I was driving back home from Qualifying Sunday night, Susan called and said she had found a cheap hotel for Thursday night in Greenwood if we wanted to drive up. It was her idea, but she didn’t really have to twist my arm – so we drove up here last night after I got off work. After all, I didn’t want to disappoint her.
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