Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

just wondering what everyones favorite indy 500 moment was that they saw. mine was my first 500 in 1989. we sat in turn 1. it was the most awe inspiring day of my life....i was 9 and surrounded by 300,000 people.....i havent missed a race since....and with any luck will never miss one again....

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

I'm in awe that I am 10 years older than you. I was there that day as well, but I was slightly unaware of my surroundings.

My favorite Indy 500 moment would be anything that has to do with Danica.

Actually my favorite memories are when I would go to practice or quals. (before I was 10) I would sit behind the team when they where on pit road or just run around like the place was a personal play ground. The Snake Pit was fun for a Seven or Eight year old because you got to see the crazyness but no one messed with a little kid. Sometimes I would hang on the garage fence and wait for drivers.

In 1976 we went to quals. and it was the first time I saw an Air-Brushed T-Shirt. I wanted one with a chopper on the front in American Flag colors with my name on it. Mom wouldn't get it for me and I was devestated. I was sick and couldn't go to the race, but when mom came home she had my shirt. (I still wear that shirt from time to time to bring back memories.)

When the car my dad worked on finished 10th in '79. I just remember the blow out afterwards at Gehlhausens just across the street from the track.

Going to the garages with dad during the summer when he worked on the cars over there. Being allowed to go somewhere that was prohibited during may and riding a bike around the seating area and being amazed how big that place is.

Watching Parnelli get emotional after P.J. qualified for his first and knowing that it had to do as much with all of what they went through with Page.

For me it's the sounds and sights as well as the cars. I have so many good memories there that they would be hard to list.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

I never was much of a Danny Sullivan fan, but the "Spin & win" was pretty impressive. :respect:

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

Going to "carb day" which was still on thursday with my auto class from Western High in Russiaville IN in 1991 and the teacher said I see nothing and know nothing and I will meet you all at the van at 3:30. 18 y/o and pretty much had a free pass to whatever I wanted. I remember entering the turn 4 infield don't remember leaving!!!! GOOD TIME!!!!!!

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

*Seeing Jack Hewitt qualify for the race in 1998 and his tears of joy in the post-qualifying interview

*"Indiana" Andy Hillenburg qualifying for the race in 2000, and same as above

*Stefan Johannson bumping Emerson Fittipaldi out of the field with a few minutes to go on Bump Day in 1995. That completed a shocking shut out of Team Penske and drivers Fittipaldi and Al Unser, Jr. I can't say I was too happy about Al Jr. being bumped out, though.

*Listening to the radio when I was young in 1992 and hearing the exciting play-by-play call of Al Jr. nipping Scott Goodyear at the line.

*The 2006 race finish of Sam Hornish and Marco Andretti

*My first Indy 500 I attended in 1998. Seeing the field come by my seat in turn one for the first time during the pace lap

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

My first race was in 2007 and lap 1 is absolutely incredible. It had rained early and many people were not in their seats yet so I watched lap 1-15 from the balcony right across from pole sitter Helios pit.

http://www.youtube.com/user/indycars

Indycar.com has loaded 344 videos to their youtube channel. There's some incredible stuff there. Much of which I have never seen. Old newsreels are really cool.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

A buddy of ours took me and my dad to my first one... Tony Kanaan was leading the race and a slower car drops oil on the racing groove half a lap before he comes by us in turns 3-4...

Our buddy said to watch out for the leaders and if anything happens hit the deck... Kanaan comes by at full speed, hits the oil in the groove, rockets into the wall directly in front of us:headbang (did I mention we were on the walk-way along the fence?:kookoo)

Well as we ducked for cover and Kanaan was giving us a debris/fiberglass shower, our buddy tried to grab a chunk of the fiberglass (as a souvenir from my first 500) that landed near us and the closest Yellow-Shirt wasn't having any of that, and started stomping at his hands as if he was stomping out a fire...

At the end of the weekend, an IMS track spotter was fired (for not notifying officials that the oil had been dropped in the groove), our buddy's hand was nearly smashed by a Yellow-Shirt, my hearing was gone for the next week, and we left early to catch the USAC sprint race at Eldora which gave us a total of 800+ A-main laps viewed in one weekend. That memory, of my first 500, I'll never forget. :checkered:

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

1996. Buddy Lazier's Victory Lane interview. He overcame so much physical pain to be in that race and to win it under those circumstances was amazing.

1998. Hewitt. I just can say enough about his run and his pure emotions over qualifying and making the field.

1995. Seeing no Team Penske at Indy. That was one of if not the best Bump Day's in history.

1997. The switch fro those stupid turbo's to NA engines.

1987. Mario's car breaking and leaving him in the pits yet again.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

Foyt wins number 4, 1977.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

This gets my vote too.

I saw Foyts #3 too, the race wasn't as good and it was a two day affair but it was my first 500 and I remember it fondly and this was my second favorite.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

1. Mears running down Johncock from 10+ seconds down with 12 laps to go in
1982. The crowd was so loud at the end you could barely hear the cars. Johncock did an incredible job holding Mears off with a horribly handling car. The most exciting sporting event I have ever witnessed!!!! We were literally shaking after it was over. Who said American circle trackers can't drive Indy cars???!!!!

2. Johnny Rutherford's run from 25th starting position to win in 1974 was one of the greatest drives I've ever witnessed. He was just spectacular.

3. Any of Lloyd Ruby's runs from 1966, 68', 69' & 1970. He should've been a 3 or 4 time winner

4. My lifetime hero, Parnelli, winning in 1963. I wasn't there, however. I was home in Cincinnati clinging to my radio. 1964 (Stand J)was my first 500.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

Yeah! :thumb That was my first 500. Never forget the feeling seeing them dive into turn 1 for the first time. WOW, great childhood memory.
There are too many memories to pick one 1.

1980 slowest qualifier Gary Bettenhausen's run to 3rd.

Rick Mears' rim-riding turn 1 pass of Michael Andretti in 1991.

Sullivans spin and win in 1985.

Greatest bump day qual run I ever saw. 1993. Eddie Cheever in a Menards car.

Those famous 4 words...."Andretti is slowing down"

Getting to see childhood heros' run Indy: GaryB/Dickson/Bigelow/Carter/Parsons/Puterbaugh/Rice/Kinser/Leffler/Chassey/Vogler/Sneva....so many others.

Brayton withdrawing his front row car and winning the pole.

Watching Luyendyk dancing around the 240mph mark. Damn.

I could go on for a long time. Probably my most lasting and cherished memory will forever be the last time my Dad and I were at the track. A practice day in 2004. He passed away 2 months later, but he was so happy on that day. He had only missed two 500's, due to health reasons, since his first race in 1935.
David.


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...vidIndy-12.jpg

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

1998- JJ Yeley spins in turn one on the first lap, stayed off the wall and came back to finish in the top ten.
The other one was the year Buddy Rice won and there was bad weather after the race. Tom Carnagie or another speedway announcer informed us about the weather and said we needed to take cover. I thought that was strange because it’s kind of hard to get 300,000 people out of that place quickly. We sat in the stands for another 30 min because there wasn’t enough room to go anywhere.
We have about 2 ½ months until we do it all over again:applaud:

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

1. Pat O'Connor taking the pole in '57. :checkered:

2. Sitting in the front row of the upper deck over turn one back in the late '50s, early '60s when one of the Novis would scream past during qualifying or practice. Oh, that sound :respect:

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

im surprised that nobody mentioned the 1995 race. jaques villenuve gets penalized 2 laps for passing the pace car while he was leading, literally drives the tires off the thing comes back from 2 laps down and wins the race.......a common misconception is that he got the laps back, but he actually drove 202 laps for a total of 505 miles....that was pretty impressive i thought.......

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

Yeah, that was impressive. Scott Goodyear kinda threw that one away in 1995. Sucks for Scott, 2nd in 1992, 2nd in 1997 and looked to be on his way to win 1995, only to be penalized and put back to 14th. The Canadians had 'em covered in '95.
David.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

Don't remember the year but sitting in the PDM suite when Sam Hornish won his 500. Even though Sam was running for Penske the room went wild. PDM is where Sam got his start for those unaware. Simply amazing!!!!!!!

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

That was '06. That was quite a deal.

I'd have to say the 1960 race stands out for me as that was my first 500 and there was quite a battle for the lead before Jim Rathman took the win. 1967 when Parnelli in the turbine had it won and a small part failure handed the win to AJ.

1980 Gary B. went from 32nd to 3rd and Sneva went from 33rd to 2nd.

My 50th consecutive race will be this year.

Really, every moment of every race is fantastic for me (except for the tragic moments).:crying:

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

Never been to the race itself but one I won't forget was the race in 92.

It was the first time I got the 500 on tape. They talked about how cold it was that day with temps in the 50's. All the wrecks.:eek: Stan Fox nearly t-boning Phillipe Gasche(sp?) yet both were uninjured. Numerous head on crashes by Mario and Jeff Andretti, Fittipaldi. At one time half the race was run under yellow. Michael Andretti wheeling a new Ford powered Lola for Newman/Haas just dominated all day only to break with 11 to go. Unser Jr. and Scott Goodyear who started dead last, battling the last 10 or so laps then provided the closest finish ever.

I haven't watched the tape in a long time but still remember it very well.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

1. Jim Hurtubise in the yellow Demler #99 coming out of turn 4 with a nice lead on lap 1 of my first Indy 500 in 1961. Sitting in the Tower Terrace, that was my first time seeing Indy cars at full speed. :eek:

2. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his first 500, also in 1961.

3. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his second 500 in 1964.

4. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his third 500 in 1967.

5. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his fourth 500 in 1977.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

I was eight years old in 1976 and attending my first 500 with my dad and uncle. This will be our 34 year in a row now. The first couple of years I don’t recall much of the races. As the years went on I fell in love with the Speedway. Just driving down 16th St and Georgetown Rd on Carb Day looking at the place from the outside gave me goose bumps. Some of the races that stick out the most would be AJ getting his fourth win. Rick Mears passing Michael A on the outside in turn 1 in 1991 to get his fourth. Danny’s spin and win which happened right in front of us. I was able to buy the picture from the Speedway with Danny spinning and my dad and I in the picture behind him (pretty cool). Now having the Bronze Badge to get into the garage area makes my week complete. We moved around the Speedway in different seats, some good and some bad until we ended up in the B-Penthouse. We truly own the Speedway for the great seats. The most important part of the Speedway for me is spending the day with my dad every year at the track. I wish the day would never end.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

My fav's would be

1.Jim Nabors singing Back Home in Indiana

2. Foyt's 4th win

3. Lap one every year

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

The first year I was tall enough to go with my brother and my dad. My dad and brother had went few years before but I was never able to go because I wouldn't be able to see. My brother actually stood in the rain on that sunday and bought the tickets from a couple of people that had to catch a flight that evening and would not be able to return on monday. The race was rained out on monday and ran on tuesday. Ever since my dad brother and I go every year.

PLUS YOU GOTTA LOVE THE TURN 3 SWEET.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

Not sure what You meant by Fox "nearly" Tboned Gache, That Was our first race and We darn near froze to death!!! 50's We would have like the 50's for sure,I dont think it every got that warm that day?
Gaches car was hit so hard it sounded like a bomb going off!! Broke the tub nearly in two and didnt to to well for Gaches left leg and ribs?
Fox was screened off the Gache car siting after spinning outand hitting the first turn wall. He was just sitting there like a dead duck, Foyt was jsut ahead of Fox doing the screening and He turned at the last minute to miss Gache, Fox didnt have enough time to change course and hit him pretty good. We got lucky and got in Fox's garge after the race and his car didnt fare to well either.
aXe

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

Joe, you beat me to it, especially #s 1 and 3.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

This is a neat thread. Indy's on my wish list, but I've never actually been.

My favorite Indy moment wasn't at Indy at all. But the first US 500 at Michigan right after the split. I didn't like what Tony George did with locking in the top 25 postitions for IRL drivers, but to try and create a rival to the 500 was just wrong, and I'm glad it failed so miserably.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

i liked how all the CART guys were saying that the 500 was going to be a nightmare with all of the inexperienced drivers and then on the 1st lap at MI they stack up almost the entire field!!! pricless!!! :O:

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

Remember the roar of laughter at Indy when they announced the CART Michigan pileup over the PA system? I totally forgot about that. You're right Rob, that was priceless!! Add that to my list of favorite Indy moments.
"The cars and stars of CART". What a joke they were that day. Then they even started backup cars. :loser:
David.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

I'm just going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing you've never been to an Indy 500? :kookoo
David.

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

THE LAST TIME A ROADSTER WON! AND SEEING SUSAN GRIM IN SHOT SHORTS IN THE 70S AND OLDER THEN ME LINDA VAUGHN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND BOUT A 100 MORE GOOD LOOKING LADIES AT THE SPEEDWAY! THE WHITE FRONT AND BEVERAGE INN! AND NO WOMEN OR FANS IN THE PITS! THOSE WHERE GREAT TIMES!!!!!!!!!:checkered:

Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
 

i remember how loud it was and everyone in unison with the roar.....it was great! i love when everyone sees/hears something at the same time there.....its 10X louder than in any sports arena. the video boards have been about the best improvement to the speedway in recent history. i love during cautions hearing everyone react at the same time to a crash or something else dramatic......