hawthorneandash
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Nearly half a million people will make the pilgrimage to the little 2.5 mile oval located in Speedway, IN. I have read that on race day, Speedway becomes around the 17th most populous city in the United States. It is the most widely attended single day sporting event in world.
This year, INDYCAR introduces the universal aero kit. Compared to the old chassis, the cars are now slimmer, have no rear bulk heads or winglets, and create less downforce — putting more pressure on the skills of the drivers to stick it through the corners. So far, this has resulted in higher top speeds among experienced drivers, about double the amount of passing at the line alone, and generally more excitement.
33 cars qualify for the Indianapolis 500, and for the first time since the IRL/CART split, more driver-car combinations have entered the race. At 36 entries and counting, bumping is now guaranteed this May, adding even more excitement and pressure. This year is my 9th race, been going with my dad since I was 14. To many, The INDYCAR series is just a misfit; not as prestigious or technologically advanced as F1, and without the same fan base or raw power from the underbelly of NASCAR. But maybe that’s why we Hoosiers like it so much. It’s the balance of man and machine, and as you can see above with Scott Dixon’s crash last year, it is a fragile balance that demands respect. So for me, today begins the continuous chorus, as I’m sure it does for many, of Back Home Again in Indiana.