Ever since I was about 8 years old I tried to see or hear the Indianapolis 500. I could have easily gone to see it in person since it wasn't that far from my home, but I was never wild about oval track racing. I am sure that I would have enjoyed it though. The race started in 1911 in the year of my father's birth. The track has been owned by one family most, if not all, of my lifetime.
The circus event of this type of racing is almost always the same at the 500. High school bands, honoring of military personal, Air Force flyover, Florence Henderson singing "God Bless America, Jim Nabors singing "Back Home In Indiana", roar of the engines, the drag race to the first turn, the drag race between every turn after that, lots of accidents, sometimes death and the drink of milk for the winner. Milk? Oh,and we can't forget owner Tony Hulman's "Gentlemen, start your engines". After he died his wife did it for 20 years until 1998 when she was 93 years old. Just a faint wisper...hardly the same. Now her daughter does it and I must say she is starting to look like her mother.
This year's winner was Scott Dixon from New Zealand. He led more than half the race. A couple of years ago Marco Andretti, grandson of the famous Mario, came in second place, losing by inches. He said that "when it comes to the 500 only the winner counts". I think he is right...SCOTT DIXON...THE WINNER!
