Exploring the Garage and Pits at Indy

I didn’t know that it’s been a lifelong dream of mine to get a pre-race behind-the-scenes tour of the Indy 500 until Saturday…when it came true.

I’ve been indoctrinated and am now a full-fledged IndyCar fan.

I mean I’ve pretty much always watched or listened to the 500, ever since going to time trials XX years ago when I was in high school. The iFarmer went to the race and at least tailgated for years with his frat brothers until Future Farmboy decide that he’d make his first entrance around Memorial Day.

I can’t recall which of them asked this question when we announced the due date: “Does that mean you won’t be going to the race this year?” Um. Yes.

But if I’d had an experience like today, I may have at least said maybe. Getting Pit and Garage passes was, well, how do I Put this? Awesome.

We saw Roger Penske up close and personal. And I was this close (about five feet) from Super Girl Danica Patrick.

It’s clear that she is the new IRL darling. Her merchandise trailers had the longest lines. Even I got into the act, buying a Danica Patrick “Dream Big. Girls Rule” t-shirt for Future Farmgirl.

Thanks to a personal connection to a Team Andretti-Green member, we got a fantastic tour behind the ropes at the Andretti garage and in the pit area…RIGHT DOWN at track level. How cool is that?

I had to leave to go pick up the kids at the Children’s Museum, but the iFarmer and Teacher Man stayed until the bitter end of qualifying. They ended up with some great stories and great pix.

They were in the garage area when the Team Ethanol wreck was brought in. Thankfully no injuries, except for the car.

Pieces of the car are being examined in this photo:

Also love this shot from the iFarmer in a men’s bathroom. If you can’t read it, the scrawl says “Team Andretti Green is a Cult.”

Here’s a cute series too. Dan Wheldon, who had the pole for quite a while Saturday but was knocked off by teammate Scott Dixon, had to take a real pit stop. The nice guy that he is, Wheldon stopped just before reaching his destination to sign an autograph for a little girl. Then, as you can see, the crowd descend…until the yellow shirts security guide him out of the crowd.

Did he ever get to pee? Don’t know.