i love a parade

The 500 festival parade is one of my favorite events during race weekend. Rachel Ray was the Grand Marshall. I tried to get John to yell “YUM-O!!!” as she passed by us. But he questioned me. “Yummy???? What???? Oh?? Yum-huh???? Yum-O???” She was a mile down the parade route before he understood. As always the heavily mustached Indianapolis Police Motorcycle drill team weaved around each other to start out the parade.

I now think that Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels may be the coolest governor in the Union. When asked to take part in the parade he said he wanted to ride his Harley with the Patriot Guard Riders. They are a group of motorcyclists who attend the funerals of fallen soldiers in attempts to keep the peace and honor the families’ of soldiers as class-less groups choose to use these funerals as a protest forum.

Lance Armstrong, who drove the pace car at the start of the race, rode in that parade. He looked bored to tears and as if he might be firing his agent later. I was not too impressed. On the other hand Helio Castroneves is always full of enthusiasm. You have you to love that guy...unless you’re a part of Andretti-Green Racing and then you make fun of Helio’s exuberance because you are secretly jealous because Helio has won two Indy 500’s and you’ve won zero.

The rest of the parade was sprinkled with marching bands, community groups, floats and balloons, celebrities, members of the Hulman-George Family, vintage cars, local news personalities, as well as all eleven rows of 500 drivers. Oh, and a few Shriners…who I could do without considering my fear of men in Fezzes. Jorge Garcia (who plays, Hurley, my favorite character on LOST) was a definite crowd darling. Click here to see more pictures.

On Carb Day I watched Gene Simmons walking around the pit area as women flocked to him. He gave them hugs that were way too long and kisses on the cheek as he posed for pictures. It was gross. Gross. Gross. Gross. But at the parade his car paused in front of us and a few fans ran out to get his autograph. A parade volunteer was trying to herd the autograph seekers away from Gene Simmons' car and this seemed to agitate him. A little girl of about 8 or 9 ran up to the car while the “security” volunteer was trying to shoo her away. Gene put a hand out towards the woman telling her to stop. He waved the little girl closer to the car and lifted her up next to him in the car as he singed an autograph. Wow, I did I just have a moment of respect for Gene Simmons? Did that really happen? He is Indy, baby. Click here to see pictures.