This was my third year participating in the festivities surrounding the Indianapolis 500 (race cars, folks, we're talking about those cool little open-wheel race cars) While I opted out of the actual race this year (standing in 100 degree heat on metal bleachers with 10,000 of my closest friends isn't exactly spectacular, even though this year it was only 80....) we have a big group of friends who turn the holiday weekend into a big party.
The festivities kick off on Thursday night at St.Elmo Steakhouse in downtown Indy (this almost-a-vegetarian loves every side dish, salad and appetizer and their fish is amazing) with a huge dinner reservation and a night out in Indianapolis afterward. Our regular after-dinner stop the last few years has been Ike and Jonesy's where we are usually the youngest patrons by a decade or so.
Friday is Carb Day (short for carburetor since cars used to have those) so it's off to the track bright and early to watch a race of the up-and-coming Indy drivers, eat deliciously disgusting track food and marvel at the Pit Competition. (Seriously, how fast can you change a tire?) There's always a..."concert" after the race and by concert I mean a band that's...not exactly filling stadiums anymore plays on the lawn inside the racetrack using the worst sound system known to man. We usually swing by but never stay long. Washed-up metal bands aren't my thing. By that point we're hot, sweaty and tired. This portion of the trip is not heavily photographed.
On Saturday we sleep in, have Skyline Chili for lunch (so much cheddar cheese!) and invade the home of one of the nicest families we know for a party that begins in the late afternoon and ends long after the kegs are empty and the daylight has gone. Sunday is race day! For me this year that meant going back to sleep when the guys left at 7 am. They got back in the late afternoon after watching a record number of lead changes and a victory by our favorite, Tony Kanaan! It really is something everyone should see once. That many cars that close to each other going that fast, it's impressive. During the race one inevitably needs to take a break from standing in the sweltering bleachers so a walk to the golf course is sometimes in order. (The first half of a full-size golf course is inside the racetrack at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.) There will be more gross and delicious food to eat, awesome people watching opportunities (oh man, the wardrobe choices) and the final dozen laps of tension as you wait to see if your predicted winner can pull it off. Despite sitting this year out, I've been twice in the past and look forward to going back in the future.
We finish out our weekend with breakfast on Monday morning before everyone parts ways. There's a slow, sunburnt pace to that breakfast every year. Our group can say with only their body language and their tan lines, "We did it again. Who knows how but here we are. See y'all next year."
The best thing about spending Memorial Day weekend in Indy is that there is so much tradition surrounding these events. There are specific games, food, drinks, speeches. It's familiar and new, exhausting and wonderful each year. I never thought I would get excited about race cars and while the actual race is not the highlight of the weekend for me, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else on Memorial Day weekend.
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| via Brian on Facebook |
The festivities kick off on Thursday night at St.Elmo Steakhouse in downtown Indy (this almost-a-vegetarian loves every side dish, salad and appetizer and their fish is amazing) with a huge dinner reservation and a night out in Indianapolis afterward. Our regular after-dinner stop the last few years has been Ike and Jonesy's where we are usually the youngest patrons by a decade or so.
Friday is Carb Day (short for carburetor since cars used to have those) so it's off to the track bright and early to watch a race of the up-and-coming Indy drivers, eat deliciously disgusting track food and marvel at the Pit Competition. (Seriously, how fast can you change a tire?) There's always a..."concert" after the race and by concert I mean a band that's...not exactly filling stadiums anymore plays on the lawn inside the racetrack using the worst sound system known to man. We usually swing by but never stay long. Washed-up metal bands aren't my thing. By that point we're hot, sweaty and tired. This portion of the trip is not heavily photographed.
On Saturday we sleep in, have Skyline Chili for lunch (so much cheddar cheese!) and invade the home of one of the nicest families we know for a party that begins in the late afternoon and ends long after the kegs are empty and the daylight has gone. Sunday is race day! For me this year that meant going back to sleep when the guys left at 7 am. They got back in the late afternoon after watching a record number of lead changes and a victory by our favorite, Tony Kanaan! It really is something everyone should see once. That many cars that close to each other going that fast, it's impressive. During the race one inevitably needs to take a break from standing in the sweltering bleachers so a walk to the golf course is sometimes in order. (The first half of a full-size golf course is inside the racetrack at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.) There will be more gross and delicious food to eat, awesome people watching opportunities (oh man, the wardrobe choices) and the final dozen laps of tension as you wait to see if your predicted winner can pull it off. Despite sitting this year out, I've been twice in the past and look forward to going back in the future.
We finish out our weekend with breakfast on Monday morning before everyone parts ways. There's a slow, sunburnt pace to that breakfast every year. Our group can say with only their body language and their tan lines, "We did it again. Who knows how but here we are. See y'all next year."
The best thing about spending Memorial Day weekend in Indy is that there is so much tradition surrounding these events. There are specific games, food, drinks, speeches. It's familiar and new, exhausting and wonderful each year. I never thought I would get excited about race cars and while the actual race is not the highlight of the weekend for me, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else on Memorial Day weekend.
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