The Month Of May

To a race fan from Indiana, the phrase "The month Of May" can mean only one thing. That "thing" is the happenings at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I have always looked to this month with great anticipation. This year will be different as far as sounds and track activity goes, but the people will remain the same.

The Sounds:
This is my vacation month from my real job (Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division). I drive 90 miles (one way) to the Speedway every day. I sometimes arrive at the track after practice has already begun... I have my car windows open... waiting to get close enough to hear that whine of the engines echoing off the grandstands. This year it will be a louder "rumble". The sounds this year will be that of normally aspirated racing engines vs. the high whine of the powerplants still used in the CART series. I have heard several engine noise changes since first going to the track in the early 60's.... Novi.... Offys....Turbines....Buick V6.... Over time I'm sure that I will be remembering the sounds of the Aurora and Infiniti with the same fondness.

The Activity:
The activity on the track this year will be noticeably different. It will not be terribly busy. Face it....this is a building year for the series and there is just not as much money being spent by sponsors as in the past. There are only 64 cars entered and 30 drivers listed. I would imagine there will be plenty of time for "track inspections"... especially the second week of practice and qualifying. The biggest activity in the second week will be in the garage area as drivers show up with helmet in hand looking to hop into a backup car for a team that has already qualified their primary car.

The People:
The faces in the crowd this month will be pretty much the same. The die hard Indy fan will be there. I see those same nameless but recognizable faces year after year and am looking forward to seeing my fellow race fans once again.

The Star-News vendors will be the same, from the familiar guy on the tricycle.. to the red headed middle aged man with thick framed glasses simply saying "paper" in a sleepy voice.....to the old black man quickly spouting his familiar "driva's... names and numbaaa's" routine.

The many "ticket brokers" will be hounding me for tickets until race day outside the track. The bus loads of elementary school children on field trips will be hanging on the fence in hopes of getting a driver's autograph.

There will also be the usual shirtless race fans at the entrance of gasoline alley, complete with beer and cooler in hand. They will yell obscenities at the personalities that they don't like (Robin Miller is always a good candidate... but is good enough to come over and debate..). They will cheer their favorites. These characters may seem a little rough, but believe me.. They are very knowledgeable race fans.

The yellow shirts will also be there. The rudeness of the senior members of this group is somewhat of a tradition. One yellow shirt that has become recognizable in a short time is a guy I call "Tweety". If you get the chance to enter gasoline alley, you will see and hear him tooting his double whistles just inside the main entrance. If you really want to hear him in action, just walk down the center aisle while a car is being towed to/from the pit area.

There will be business men and women, housewives, factory workers, and teens all playing hooky for an "afternoon in the sun" at the Speedway. It is an expected and accepted tradition at Indy.

All in all, I am looking forward to the month of May. Indy is just a fun place to be.

Terry Callahan,
May, 1997