Before the race gets started the pit crew has to practice their tire changing. They changed tires several times before they felt like they were ready.

This is what Jimmy Kite hopes no one sees in their rear view mirror at the end of the race.

The garage area is inside the track and it’s here that all the last-minute work is done on the cars. Some cars are already being wheeled out and some are still in pieces as they fine tune the engines.

Here’s something you don’t see everyday. I went to church yesterday not knowing that there’s a racing ministry that arranges on-site services here in the conference center on Sunday morning. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a priest with a b&w checkered stole!

The pit area was pretty quiet early except for crew members like these who are out prepping their equipment and getting ready for the big event.

It’s early at the track but eventhough I left my hotel at 5:20am it still took me an 1 1/2 hours to get here. I guess multiple marching bands for entertainment on the track is a tradition. This Navy band from Illinois was the first in a long line of bands that are still marching out here.

Just walking downtown near the parade I saw a parked Indy 500 Chevy Suburban and it was displaying the E85 sticker.

I made it to the parade today. I wasn’t ready when Hemelgarn racing driver Jimmy Kite came by but here he is, just looking the other way. Huge crowd downtown. The parade took just under 2 hours start to finish.

With all the excitement about the ethanol car you may wonder if that’s the only way ethanol is being promoted here at the Indy Speedway. Nope. Chevrolet has a huge display area inside the track and featured in the middle of it is one of their Avalanche E85 trucks. All in all ethanol is getting some great publicity here.