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.
You can hear what it sounds like to be in the pit just before the race when the cars are getting their final tune-up and when the crew is practicing: 
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.
I caught up with Jimmy Kite who’ll be driving #91 for Hemelgarn Racing today. He couldn’t have appeared more relaxed. In just a couple hours he’s hoping to drive around this track at 220 mph or more and move from the back of the pack to the winner’s circle. You can listen to my interview with Jimmy here:
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.
One of the sponsors of Team Ethanol this year is the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. Representing them at the media event on Friday was Bryan Fogerson, board member and corn grower from Tuscola, IL. Bryan allowed me to interview him about his organization’s sponsorship and he talks about what the increased use of ethanol will mean to farmers and consumers.
You can listen to my interview with Bryan 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.
I’ve got pictures of Tony Danza and Cheech Marin too. Now why were they in the parade? Inquiring minds want to know.
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.
As I was leaving the track yesterday they had the Black Crowes playing on the big stage. I avoided that crowd but found another band playing over in the Chevrolet display area. I have no idea who they are but they sounded great.
There’s just an immense amount of activity going on here and throughout the city. I’m probably going to miss the parade if I stay on this computer much longer so I better get going. More to come.
