marco...POLO!

First off, I would like to put some rumors to rest. Contrary to the gossip I was not personally involved in the break-up of Penelope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey. Now that that’s settled…

This time last week I was at the track enjoying Carb Day. Helio Castroneves & his crew had just won the Pit Stop Challenge. John & I took Mom to the Track Museum. After seeing the History of the IMS film (again) we spoke to the man who narrated it, Indy 500 Historian Donald Davidson. Oh to be there right now.

I have more pictures! These are from race day (Sunday). About half-way through (lap 100-ish) I started thinking that this could turn out to be my least favorite Indy 500 that I’ve attended. That’s when Dan Wheldon was leading by over 10 seconds on pretty much every lap. It’s a given that rookies will end up in the wall. That the teams who struggle financially and lack big name sponsorship sadly roll their cars off the track and back to Gasoline Alley (if they don’t end up trying out the SAFE-R Barrier first). It’s expected that one of the Foyt cars will pit again and again trying to tinker with the car’s settings. It’s maybe even a little anticipated that Tomas Sheckter spin and crash. But each season he seems to finish more races. Unbelievably, two Indy 500 winners, Buddy Rice (’04) and Helio Castroneves (’01, ’02), were taken out in the same accident! Helio is one of the last drivers I would have predicted to not finish the race. He has never had anything less than a top 10 finish at Indy.

I like so many drivers in the series that I actually found it easier to make a short list of drivers who I didn’t want to see win. Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Jacques Lazier (like that would happen). As Franchitti inched his way to the lead I told John that I would rather listen to Naomi Judd (Franchitti’s mother-in-law) give an hour long lecture on polishing silver than to see Dario win. And I really don’t like to listen to Naomi. Ever. At the top of that short list of drivers who I didn’t want to win was 19-year-old rookie Marco Andretti. Towards the end of the race it become clear that Little Marco had a really great car and a pretty good chance to win the thing. I told John, “I would rather clean *Ruth Buzzy’s toenails than see Marco win this race.” Everyone in the stands were on their feet when Marco’s father, Michael, took over the lead. After retiring as a driver in 2003 Michael returned to chase down the dream of a win at Indy-something he had not accomplished after 14 starts there. Everyone, well most everyone, wanted a win for Michael. The Andretti name is probably the most well known name when it comes to open wheel racing. Yet in within that dynasty Mario holds the one and only title of an Indy 500 win (1969). The Andrettis are kind of known to be a bunch of whiners. It’s the few laps in the race. Michael is leading and may have a chance of realizing his Indy dream. Then he gets passed…by his own son, Marco. My day is about to be ruined. The excitement & emotion in the stands didn’t match the history making laps lead by Danica last year. Yet the current in the air is strong. Is the Andretti Curse about to be smashed to pieces by a 19-year-old rookie? NO!! Sam Hornish, Jr. flies past Marco in the second closest win in Indy 500 history. I must say, it was glorious. Sam is one of those quiet humble but driven all-American drivers. He’s won IRL races and championships but had yet to even finish the 500. With a new strategy & focus this was Sam’s year. Marco needs to earn his win. He needs to respect The Track. And I have yet to hear him, or any Andretti, offer a congratulations to the winner, Sam Hornish, Jr. Whiners they remain.

*where has she been? she’s missed the last two 500’s.