This year marks the 90th anniversary of the greatest spectacle in racing, the Indianapolis 500.

Ray Harroun won the first race in his Marmon Wasp--now on display at the Speedway Museum. His average speed was a whopping 68 mph--moving out for those days.

Think of the great legends who have challenged this historic track since 1911--Jim Clark, Gaston Chevrolet, Bill Vukovich, the Andrettis, the Unsers, Rick Mears, Graham Hill, Parnelli Jones, AJ Foyt, Rodger Ward. Some have paid the ultimate price--Scott Brayton, Eddie Sachs among many many others.

This year will be special as both Michael Andretti and Little Al Unser return to challenge the Brickyard and hopefully walk away with the Borg-Warner Trophy-- a prize only given to the very best--not to mention the lion's share of the ten-million dollar purse.

Truly this is the greatest sporting event in the world for fans of speed.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the greatest spectacle in racing, the Indianapolis 500.

Truly this is the greatest sporting event in the world for fans of speed.

Sadly the IRL/CART spat has horribly damaged the race. It seems to be improving a little bit lately, but I question whether it will ever return to its former glory.

Sadly, I tend to agree.
Thanks to the Roger Penske-Tony George fued a few years back it hasn't really been the same. Attendance is still good-- 500 plus thousand, but there's several no-name drivers that fans have a hard time following...yet, I think, if they have the nerve to get out there and do this, then they get my respect...and if they do well, they're not no-names anymore....

Heard tell that IRL/CART might be putting their differences aside and join up. This would mean nothing but good. And once the idiot Tony George (it wasn't broke, so why fix it?) gives up control of the track to a real race fan, I expect the good days to once again return..still get goosebumps tho, when they start engines.......:)

Heard tell that IRL/CART might be putting their differences aside and join up. This would mean nothing but good.

Yeah, I'd like to see something like pre-breakup CART return. I'd like to see some road courses come back, not just ovals. F1 is nice and all but there's never any passing and the same three drivers always win.

Sam Hornish on the pole, average qualifying speed almost 229 mph.
Folks, that is moving out.
Rounding out the front row are former winners Helio Castranueves ("Helio, Helio, Heee-leee-oooh") and Dan Wheldon.

Danica Patrick, who receives more press than Princess Di EVER did, even tho she's not won a single IRL race (and never will), qualified 10th.


http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/5659/row35kh.jpg

Congratulations to Sam Hornish for a great victory and exciting race. This man deserved this win.

Because the race wasn't televised in our area, (more thanks to the gracious sportsman Tony George for THAT) we watched it on tape delay later that night when the Coca-Cola 600 was on--- we switched back and forth during commercials---it was fun watching the different styles of racing.