May Wrap

Memorial Day has come and gone and with it the Indy Cars are gone for another 11+ months. We had a little bit of everything this month at the track. Rain, sun, wind, wrecks, temper tantrums, a new winner and whining aplenty! Congrats to Scotty D for winning. Scott's been as good as anyone over the past several years and this year the team put it all together and got the win. Good for them and Scott.

My biggest disappointment came on lap 156 when Tomas Scheckter broke a driveshaft leaving the pits thus ending what was looking like a win. Anyone that disputes he had a car that was as fast as Scotty D, Vitor or Marco is just a fool. But shit happens and as it was, Tomas finished 24th. Sorry to those sitting around me on Sunday as I was bent when he went out and I let the expletives fly!

A couple of other disappointments were losing half of Fast Friday and virtually all of Carb Day to rain. I know it's May in Indianapolis, but losing both of those sucked.

I'd like to see some changes to the qualifying process. I don't mind the three tries a day and that a bumped car can try again, but 11 per day should be scrapped.

I'd still like to see the race moved back to noon and the Coke 600 moved later an hour so some of the taxi boys could give the double a shot. It's not like a bunch of them will try, but having Stewart and Johnson couldn't hurt.

Huge crowd on Sunday and at the banquet it seemed like everyone wanted to mention it. Hell there were even people setting up places on the F1 track viewing mound along Hulman Boulevard! Other than a few rows at the bottom of the Tower Terrace the place was full.

It looks like this may have been our last year parking at 20th and Fisher. Cousin Anne is moving west. Oh we can probably park there in the future, but we'll have to pay and it just won't be the same. It's the end of an era! Looks like we're probably headed for the Coke lot.

All in all it was a good month. Sure 12 didn't win, but thankfully neither did 7! I got my wife a picture with Little Graham and had it autographed for her. She was thrilled. She asked me last night if I was sad that it was over. I'm not. As much as I love it, it wouldn't be special if it lasted any longer. F1, NASCAR and the bikes are just one weekend events. The 500 is three weeks and I love it, but I have to tell you, once race day arrives there is no way I want to go back on Monday because of rain.

That's about it. As for the IRL they are on to Milwaukee. They seem to have some momentum going now. I hope they can sustain it. I doubt it ever is as popular as it once was or that it can overtake NASCAR as some of the cheerleaders will tell you it will, but a good strong series is the next step!