Race Day at Iowa Speedway

I’ve been waiting to write this post.  Before I read the accolades of fans and news media, I was still on a rush from being there.  However, after reading the accolades, I realized that I’m telling my version of one of the most compelling races in a long time.  Whoa.  Before I actually talk about the race, I’d like to mention that I caught sight of Monica (@the_race_gIRL), Paul (@fieldof33), Kristi (@IAIndyFan), and Bill Zahren (aka Pressdog).  Unfortunately, I didn’t get to say hi, but I was like, “OMG! OTHER CRAZY FANS!!!”  All inside my head, of course.  Also of note, the header picture was taken Saturday night during the FIL race and was tinkered with using iPhoto.

The weather was humid, the sun struggled to shine for awhile (and yet, I got sunburned… my face resembles that of a lobster), and the crowd waited.  I gave up counting how many times the PA announcer asked, “Hey race fans, are you ready for some racing?” because I was ready… the first time they asked.  The subsequent times that same question was asked just made me wish they could fast-forward through the ceremonies to the important thing like driver intros, the invocation, national anthem and other such things.  But alas.  Speaking of the national anthem, that rendition nearly made me cry.  Perhaps it was the fact that I’m a music major and don’t tolerate mediocrity in that area, but really, that was bad.  1)  He screwed up the words (I missed this because I was in a bad music coma), 2) it was too slow, and 3) it was much too dressed up.  But I’m sure you ceased to care about my thoughts on that two sentences ago.  Anyway…

A buzz was definitely in the air; I was going nuts.  And then, it began.  Not surprisingly, the first caution involved a KV car.  While not Moraes’ fault, he and his teammates are certainly making a bad habit of crashing their cars.  However, they have asserted that they have speed when still in the race as evidenced by E.J. Viso’s podium finish.  Hopefully he can stitch together another race like this soon- the same for both of his teammates, I’m sure the KV Racing coffers would appreciate that.

One of, if not the most, controversial aspects of the race was Milka Duno.  After months of hearing that she should be parked and seeing raw data, I finally witnessed the “Milka squeeze” and saw her be more in the way and more slow than any other lapped car.  I recognize that negotiating lapped traffic is a part of racing.  In fact, I think it can create many opportunities for challenging the leader if set up properly.  However, washing up the track in front of the second place car after being lapped (again) and causing said car to have to break to avoid hitting you is an unnecessary and preventable danger.  If anyone with any sort of clout ever reads this, please Please PLEASE find a non-racing role in the sport for Milka.  And fast. Not surprisingly, by lap 35, Milka was parked.  I suspected (hoped) she would be.  After that, the lap traffic wasn’t nearly as difficult, although Mutoh was agonizingly slow.

The best racing (according to my dad), occurred soon after.  Dario and Dixon raced each hard for the lead for lap after lap.  It truly was exciting stuff.  Meanwhile, TK was just sitting back in third, waiting.  Throughout this segment, much more racing occurred within the pack.  Sato and Hunter-Reay were strong and, curiously, the Penske cars fell off the radar.  While they would make a nice surge later (all three with top-5 finishes to be exact), this surprised me.  Meanwhile, the Target cars were strong… go figure.

Being a fan of Graham Rahal (hey, at least I’m honest and recognize that I might be a bit biased!), I was pleasantly surprised to see him stay out during the second caution of the day.  My first assumption was that it was a strategy move, but unbeknownst to fans, it was reported that staying out was a communication error.  That error almost worked.  Five more laps, and it would have worked.  As a fan, I was rather bummed.  But hey, it’s racing.

I could continue on with a play-by-play, but I’ll spare y’all the agony of reading a live-blog-esque thing nearly two days later.  You’re welcome.

Some noteworthy things:

1. Dixon didn’t have squat after the first 50-ish laps.  Lame.  Dario’s transmission broke.  In the vein of Jane Austen, I say, “badly done” for it was.  The Ganassi teams revealed their humanity, but I doubt that was how they wanted to do that.  However, I don’t think the rest of the field minded; I certainly didn’t.
2. Andretti Autosport is bipolar.  Here’s what I mean: they have some cars that are fast, some that are slow.  This changes from day to day.  It even changes during the race.  I couldn’t figure out how or why Marco faded as badly as he did, but when it went wrong, it went wrong badly.  He suddenly lost speed as was reduced to being a roadblock for the leaders.  Hunter-Reay was good, but after the last pit-stop didn’t seem to have the same level of speed.  Danica never really had much, but kept her nose clean enough to bring home a top-10 finish, one lap down.  As for TK?  After a disappointing qualifying run, he backed up the speed he showed in practice with a stellar race.  But really, all this variation?  If AA could find consistency, they’d be a formidable threat week in and week out.  Until then, they’re… not.
3. After going down two laps for a green flag stop, I was impressed with Rahal’s run.  I honestly am not saying this just because I’m a fan.  It was a pity watching him pass cars after going down those laps because he was flying by them and it wasn’t for position.  The car seemed to get better and that allowed him to make up a lap and equal his season-best finish.  My exact memo in my  phone: “Rahal drives ass off to finish 9th.”  I was pleased.

Overall, this was a GREAT event.  I haven’t enjoyed a race that much at that speedway… ever?  Certainly not an IndyCar one.  To cap off a great race, TK’s win was VERY popular.  I was pulling for him and was glad to see it happen.  Even if Dario would have finished the race, I believe TK had the better car.  Regardless, the fans were thrilled about the victory.

I can’t wait for next year’s race.  I’ll be there, even if we don’t have season tickets.  I want to be there that badly.  Hopefully, more viewers (via TV or internet) will decide to make the trip next year.  It’s definitely worth it.

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Playlist for this post

1. Ordinary (Rock Version)- Train
2. Rape Me- Nirvana
3. Lucy- Skillet
4. Telephone- Lady GaGa
5. Bad Romance- Lady GaGa
6. Alone- Heart
7. I Don’t Know- Stage
8. Breathe- Ryan Star
9. Hallelujah- Lee DeWyze
10. Better Than Me- Hinder

A Saturday at Iowa Speedway

I’ve been looking forward to this time all day.  I’ve never shared my experiences at Iowa Speedway with people online before other than the casual, “it was so fun!” thing, so this is an adventure for me as well.  Being me, I took notes in the memo section of my cell phone so I would remember what I wanted to say.  And really, it’s only for order, because I know what I think and I know what I felt.

I felt a rush the moment I saw the cars go around the track.  A sense of awe filled me as I watched drivers whiz by that have just been names.  To see them again, live, makes them real.  That rush is still coursing through me and is probably what keeps me from saying, “screw this, I need sleep!”  But anyway, to see the speed these cars carry around such a little track astounded me.  The funny thing in this is that I’ve been there before.  I’ve seen it.  Yada yada yada.  But there I was, following the cars intently with a smile on my face.  Moments like that make these races special.

From there, we watched practice.  The cars flew by, the times were jostled, and at one time Milka Duno was P12.  My exact memo was, “How the hell was Milka 12th?!?!”  I jokingly (but only partially so) remarked that she couldn’t have driven the car.  However, all was right with the world when she succumbed to the nearly infamous bump during her first qualifying lap.  Now, before I get people complaining about how mean-spirited my remark about her practice time was, I’d like to note that her driving skills make her the laughingstock of the Izod Indy Car Series.  Also note that I said her driving skills make her a laughing stock, not her personality.  I admire her for her intelligence and work in promoting education, but those areas cannot atone for her lack of driving skills. Speaking of qualifying, Will Power came out on top.  I had a feeling his time would stick in spite of the fact that he ran early.

My race picks are as follows:  Power (obvious), Kanaan (best shot-non big two), Meira (dark horse), and Wilson (long shot).  Don’t ask for an explanation, just go with the flow.

After qualifying, the pit pass debacle occurred.  Apparently, the IRL attempted to change the way Iowa Speedway handled their pit passes.  In short, we rode on the tractor two times more than necessary to figure that out.  And I bet we weren’t the only ones.  However, it was soon resolved and we made our way into the garage area.  I was thrilled and my dad was certainly in his element.  He has a knack for asking questions that I would never think of and always gets the answers!  He definitely makes being down there fun!  During this time, I had a few driver sightings.  This threw me for a loop because I froze.  It reminded me of when I was a star-struck kid at Road America in ’98 and stood probably three feet away from Greg Moore.  I’ve always regretted that I never at least said “hi,” and I remember feeling like I missed out on something even to this day.  Well, I’m apparently still that kid because every time I saw a driver (even if they were usually on a moving vehicle and I wasn’t) I fumbled around trying to get my camera out.  The solution to this problem is simple:  I should just go to more races so I get used to it.  Now, to implement this solution.

About the drivers, it was crazy for me; they’re real people!  I’ve seen them, talked to some (briefly!), almost been run over by them and even blinded by them- Dan Wheldon smiled.  I’m not kidding; I thought I saw a guy that looked like him and “flash” went his smile and I knew who it was.  Crazy!  I felt like a stalker taking pictures of everyone as the autograph session was about to commence.  Eventually I’ll get some pictures up that tell the story from my perspective. And then, to get autographs?  It occurred to me later that I had never gotten the autograph of my favorite driver in a high-level series before.  Think about that.  There I was, in line to get Young Rahal’s line and wearing my GR tank-top I asked for for Christmas last year.  I’ll cut myself off on this train of thought now before I turn into a tweeny-fan-girl.

Okay, one last thing on Rahal.   My dad had brought his copy of Bobby Rahal’s biography that is a favorite piece of bathroom literature in my household (Do not judge!  There is a reason that the bathroom is occasionally referred to as the “reading room.”)  In this book, there are a few pictures of Bobby’s kids and my dad got it in his head to have Graham sign a picture of him and his dad from his childhood.  Let me tell you, that was cool to see.  What made it even more great was to hear Justin Wilson, who was seated next to Graham, ask, “how old were you then?”  The picture was from ’98 and Graham was nine.  To compare, I was seven then.  Whoa.  Like I said, it was a cool moment.

So, I head back tomorrow (later today).  I’ll head back with a charged up camera battery and be clean (omg the parking lots!).  By the way, y’all failed at the praying for no rain thing.  Either that, or you just gave up and faced the inevitable (like me).  Well, you better be doing the no-rain dance and lots of praying tonight… I want to watch a race tomorrow!

Good night, all!  I’ll have more tomorrow night!

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Playlist for this Post

1. Dear God- Avenged Sevenfold
2. Breathe (2 AM)- Anna Nalick
3. Daffodil Lament- The Cranberries
4. Let Her Cry- Hootie and the Blowfish
5. Here Without You- 3 Doors Down
6. I’ll Be- Edwin McCain

Why This?

Why there?  Why like this?  Why?

Ever since focus in IndyCar Nation has shifted to Iowa, questions like these have surfaced.  I read forum posts, blog posts, and blog comments, I feel like a few things aren’t acknowledged.  Before I continue (because this has potential to turn into a rant and FAST), I’d like to point out that I am aware of my obvious bias as a life-long Iowan (who’s family has lived here since the 1860’s).  Anyway…

As a person who has attended the race, I’ve seen what goes on.  I’ll honestly say that last year’s racing was boring.  I also think that some poor choices from drivers with good cars lessened the number of contenders, but that shouldn’t have mattered.  Another thing I recognize: it’s not all that unique from a design standpoint.  However, if you talk to the average fan who will show up at the track, they won’t care about that.

You know why?  I do, because I’d give you a similar answer even though I’m aware of the things that detract from the track.  It’s because it exists.  Without this facility, the closest race track is Chicagoland Speedway.  In theory, it doesn’t seem like it would be that tough to pack up and go to a race there.  Heck, Kansas is even pretty close.  Real life, though, doesn’t work like that.  For years, my dad said we’d go to a race at one of those places as soon as an IndyCar race was run at each facility.  It never happened.  And then, Iowa Speedway was built a mere hour and a half drive from my home.  My dad has held season tickets every year.  Attending an IndyCar race every year became feasible at last!

Race attendance at Iowa speaks volumes for how much this venue means to Iowans.  Sure, other people have tickets, but I’d wager that most of the tickets get sold to Iowans.  Races sell out.  Heck, the Nationwide Series race last year was one of the few sellout crowds those guys raced in front of.  Temporary grandstands are brought in for higher profile events and filled.  Iowans like their racing.  If you still have doubts, consider that one of the most hallowed tracks of dirt racing is here too.  Told you so.   We’ve got something special here.  It’s not the track itself or even the racing you see there (which isn’t bad… especially when you watch sprint cars!).  No, it’s the heart behind it all.  It’s all about the passion that drives the fans that come there.  That’s why a place like this exists; it’s all about the fans.  I’d know; I’m one of them…

…and as one of them, there’s a few things y’all need to know if you’re going to the race.  Here’s the list:

1. get a pork tenderloin.  Iowa’s known for its pork and if you’re not from here, you won’t experience meat quite like that anywhere else.  Just remember to get extra napkins because they’re rather messy.
2. Pay the extra money to do the fanwalk thing if you don’t have season tickets.  One, you get pulled down to the infield by a tractor which may be a novelty for some.  Two, it’s just plain awesome.  Do itttttttt!!!!
3. Stop by the stand that has the Nitro ice cream. If you don’t, I may find you, drag you there and force-feed it to you.  Not really, but Roy Hobbson would if he knew of its wonders.  This is one of those things you should just trust me about.
4. Pray that it doesn’t rain a lot in the week before the race. Even if you’re not the praying type, do it anyway.  If not, parking will be messy and you won’t enjoy it.

I’m sure I’ll think of more later and I’ll fill y’all in.  🙂

Looking ahead.

WIth Texas complete, we move ahead to a little track buried in the midwestern United States.  While not exactly known for overly thrilling racing, I’m beyond excited for this race.  You see, this isn’t “just another race” to me; this is my HOME race.  I WILL BE THERE WATCHING!  I hope it’s painfully obvious (my apologies about splitting your cyber ear drums) that this is a big deal.  Growing up, there wasn’t a track closer than Chicagoland.  My dad and I always tossed around the idea of going there or to Kansas, but it never happened.  In fact, the only major race I attended before Iowa Speedway was the ’98 CART race at Road America… and I’m still in love with that track.  Untimely author’s note:  That track needs to get back on the schedule ASAP.  The end. Anyway, I relish the opportunity to see IndyCars race live without having to drive a long distance.  Seriously, I’m an hour and a half away from the track… SWEET!  Television or computer screens can’t capture the atmosphere or feeling of exhilaration as one feels the air rush as the cars fly by. (I should probably stop this nonsense before I get so poetic that I start spewing pink kitties.) For the third year in a row, I’ll experience this.

This time, though, I’ll be there on both Saturday and Sunday; other happenings, such as packing for a trip to Europe, have prevented it in the past.  I get to watch qualifying and take advantage of the Fan Walk (thank you, Dad, for getting season tickets!) which allows fans to get up close; so close, that you can walk up to the fence behind the section of the pits where the crews lay out the tires and other necessary items.  This closeness allows for some interaction between drivers, crew members, and fans.

The plan this year is to get pit passes.  The first year I attended (2008), I technically wasn’t old enough to use them since you have to be 18.  Well, I was only 17, but signing the sheet of paper and looking the lady in the eye and lying to her about my age was worth it.  Author’s note:  I do not advocate intentionally lying to someone unless it will prevent death or serious injury.  Or allow a person who appears to be of age to enter the pits at Iowa Speedway. When we first got there, it was around 8 AM and surprisingly calm.  Any questions my dad posed were gladly answered.  I remember, in particular, that he all but interrogated a member of TK’s crew.  At the time, I was half-mortified.  Now, I just wish I knew enough to ask a decent question.  Anyway, later in the morning, there was a palpable buzz in the garage area.  See, things like those anecdotes are the things I look forward to in two weeks.   Experiences like these make even the most dull races exciting.

Another author’s note: Sometime within the next couple weeks, I intend to have an George Phillips-esque moment and actually provide some history about the Iowa Speedway (not that it is all that much, but…) and the area.  We Iowans, are a special type of people and the world could use a dose of Iowa history and it certainly wouldn’t hurt to put up with a little of our pride.  Besides, Pressdog, is one of us so we’re pretty badass.