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Indy's Roaring May

© Annie Johnson

The month of May holds great significance for Indiana Hoosiers.

It is the month of activity and racing at the Racing Capitol of the World, The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and The 500 Mile Race, (this will be the 89th), held every Memorial Day weekend.

There is always a parade prior to the race; a Race Queen and her court are picked in a beauty contest.

Pace cars are unveiled to lead the thirty-three drivers in the field around the 2½ mile oval track. Traditional days are set up for people to come and view Gasoline Alley where the garage area is located, see the cars up close, and meet some of the drivers--get an early feel for the lay of the land, so to speak.

Carburetion Day which used to be the Thursday before the actual race is now held on the Friday before the actual race.

To a Hoosier, there is no greater thrill than either being at the track or listening to your radio on Memorial Day to the famous words, "Gentlemen, start your engines", and hearing the roar of thirty-three powerful engines come to life, drowning out all other sounds for miles around the Motor Speedway. It is one of the sweetest sounds in the world of automobile racing.

It is traditional to have just thirty-three cars racing at Indianapolis on Memorial Day--eleven rows of three cars each.

The race is preceded by two weekends of qualifying to enter your car in the race. The fastest qualifying driver earns the title of "Pole Sitter" as he has the prime spot to start the race...first row, inside car on the track. It is a great honor and earns him extra prize money.

This year's race is on May 29, and starting time at the track traditionally was 11:00 a.m. EST., but has been changed to 12:00 noon now according to our well informed racing fan and book writer on the subject, Tom Sampson.

The opening ceremony starts out with the singing of the National Anthem and is followed by the tradition Hoosier song "On The Banks Of The Wabash" traditionally sung by Jim Neighbors for many years. Come see the winner cross the finish line and get the black and white checkered flag waved as he crosses, signifying he is the winner! Indiana has a very checkered past!!!

There is a Hall of Fame Museum at the track at 4790 West 16th Street, Indianapolis, In. 46222, phone 317-492-6747. The hours at the museum are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. everyday except Christmas. Adults $3.00 and children from age 6-15 years is $1.00.