There’s no disputing that the 104th Indianapolis 500 will not be like the other 103. This will be the first time EVER that no fans will be in the famous stands, which over the years have brought in over 350,000 spectators, as the largest one-day sport’s gathering on the planet. Not even in the great depression did fans stay away.
Roger Penske, who was looking forward to his first 500 as the owner of the Indianapolis Speedway, had to backtrack on his original declaration that the 500 would not go ahead without fans.
“This was the toughest business decision I’ve ever made in my life,” he commented.
“As dedicated as we were to run the race this year, with 25 percent attendance at our large outdoor facility, even with meaningful and careful precautions implemented by the city and state, the COVID-19 trends in Marion County and Indiana have worsened. Since our June 26 announcement, the number of cases in Marion County has tripled while the positivity rate has doubled.
“We said from the beginning of the pandemic we would put the health and safety of our community first. While hosting spectators at a limited capacity with our robust plan in place, was appropriate in late June, it is not the right path forward based on the current environment. We encourage Hoosiers to continue making smart decisions and following the advice of our public health officials, so we can help get Indiana back on track.”
The reaction of the fans and some drivers was expected “No fans! No Indy 500!”
Graham Rahal said he could relate to that refrain, “I was one of those guys!”
The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver, though, believes the long-term viability of the NTT IndyCar Series should outweigh the longstanding traditions of a race
“It is critical to the life of our series, to the life of our organizations, to the jobs that this series and racing provides to thousands of individuals working in the cottage industries in Indianapolis that rely on IndyCar racing. Without IndyCar racing, those cottage industries might disappear.”
If you have ever been to Indianapolis, to the race or just to the city, you know he’s absolutely right. The Indianapolis Speedway is the lifeblood of the city.
The traditional ‘Month of May’ has bankrolled multiple businesses that rely on the activities at the track each summer from May to the July 4th NASCAR race and many more events on into the Fall.
In fact, the sport of Indy Cars as a whole could well collapse without the event, fans or no fans. Most of the teams and drivers are based in Indianapolis and it seems when you are there, everyone has some sort of connection to this famous and iconic event.
So the catch 22 was on the wall when the mismanaged national disaster, that is the COVID Pandemic, in the USA was laid bare and continues to grow exponentially. Schools, businesses and large waves of irresponsible teenagers try to deny its existence and go about their lives undaunted by a disease that is infecting Americans at a rate of 40,000 new cases each and every day, with an apocalyptic death toll of over 170,00 individuals at the time of writing.
So, it had to take place to keep the business of the IndyCar Series going and it had to take place without fans. None at all, as the risk of a massive spike in COVID, was a way too dangerous prospect.
If you have not been to the event, you might not know that one of its finest attributes are the volunteers who come back each and every year to guide the over 350,000 fans around the massive complex.
Most have been coming since they were teenagers or younger and are now in their 70’s and retired. They are the absolute heartbeat of the event. Without their presence, the event would be hollow, even with 25% of fans, as was originally suggested. Plus, they are of course the most susceptible to the pandemic.
Penske and Doug Boles, the President of the Circuit, did the right thing as they always do.
So can they pull it off with no atmosphere?
I say yes they can and I also have great faith that the television broadcasters, which will be a combination of the NBC Network, IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) Productions and IMS radio, will put on a fitting spectacle and a show worthy of its 104 year history.
Plus, the racing gods are also in the mix as we saw at the qualifying weekend which produced some of the best story-lines in years. I actually think that after Mario (Andretti) peels off the two-seater lap leaving his grandson (Marco) to follow in his footsteps you won’t even notice there’s no crowd as the action will be once again be sensational and historic.
In fact, it was Marco Andretti’s amazing laps that won him the pole, made me realise that despite no fans, this has all the makings of a classic.
For the first time in 33 years, an Andretti will lead the Indianapolis 500 to the green flag as Marco Andretti, grandson of the 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti, won the Fast Nine Shootout to claim his first NTT Pole Award of 2020.
It was his family’s first Indy 500 pole since Mario Andretti started on pole in 1987.
“This place means so much to us as a family,” commented Marco Andretti. “We’ve just been through so many ups and downs at this place. Obviously, my cousin John (who passed away earlier this year) is riding with me and my grandfather from home. We know family is pulling for us. We live and breathe this sport and this race in particular.”
Perhaps what was more special was the overwhelming outpouring of congratulations from the Indy fraternity, especially the drivers. As a journalist, you don’t get much change from an interview with Marco or Michael as they always seem to be standoffish and unwilling to engage the media. Then again, when every other question is about your father or grandfather, in Marco’s case, then it is understandable. Mario is literally the nicest racing driver ever to live and he is the personification of what you would hope a legend in a sport should be. So, try being his son or grandson and see how that works for you.
It’s an impossible legacy to live up to and it is not just Mario and Michael.
Consider the families participation in this fabled event. Jeff Andretti, three times, John Andretti 12 times, Marco 14 with a best finish of second in his rookie debut. Michael Andretti 16 attempts at the 500, also with a best finish of second. And finally, the granddaddy of them all, Mario with 29 starts in the 500 to his name with three poles and one win in 1969.
When Mario took his final pole for the 500 in 1987 – Marco was just 2 months old.
To sum up the moment for Marco, leave it to the most gracious sportsman in the series, who Marco beat by just .017 miles an hour for pole, New Zealand’s Scott Dixon.
“I’m really happy for Marco, he deserves this,” said Dixon. “Marco can get some bad wrap from some people, but he’s such a nice person and also a big talent along with his and his families dedication to this sport. Mario and Michael these are living legends and today Marco got it done and that’s what counts.”
“The car was so loose and he just didn’t take his foot off the throttle,” said Marco’s father Michael Andretti, “He drove the hell out of it.”
For Scott Dixon, this is another massive race in his career. The 2008 winner knows he has a missile under him and the Chip Ganassi Racing team have been spot on in every practice so far. With double points and a great car, a win for the championship leader Dixon could be the pivotal point in his quest for a sixth IndyCar title in 2020.
That said, another formidable threat alongside him on the front row is 2017 winner, Takuma Sato, who will not be holding back for all of the 500 miles.
There are stories throughout the field that will play out, with or without a crowd. The 33-car field has eight past winners, including another swan-song for three-time winner Helio Castroneves. He starts 28th while 2013 winner Tony Kannan, starts 23rd and will bow out of the series at the end of this season.
Then there’s 2018 winner Will Power (22nd), last year’s winner Simon Pagenaud (25th), 2016 winner Alexander Rossi (9th ) and 2014 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay starting from fifth. All these winners will be hungry for more.
There’s 15 American drivers and a host of international drivers trying to follow in Dixon’s footsteps, including his teammates Swedes Marcus Ericsson and Felix Rosenquist.
The Indy 500 has always been a lottery and anyone of the field of 33 could make the winners circle if the racing gods deem it’s their turn to drink ‘the milk’.
Two other great stories that are worth watching out for are Colten Herta and Fernando Alonso.
Herta is one of the finest young talents Indy has produced in years with confidence to match. He starts 10th, has Honda power and is absolutely in the perfect position to win. Plus, he’s racing against his father in many ways, as Brian Herta is Marco Andretti’s strategist and now long time mentor.
Then there’s the two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, almost forgotten in the run up to this year’s event after his stunning rookie performance two years ago. Starting 26th, you may think he has no chance, but that’s not how the 500 works.
Fernando is chasing Graham Hill’s Triple Crown feat and the Kiwi legacy of Bruce Mclaren. He starts just behind last year’s winner Pagenaud and only a few places ahead of 32nd on the grid, JR Hilderbrand, who came within one corner of winning after crashing on the last lap in 2011, limping across the line in second.
So, if you have plans for Sunday (Monday morning NZ time), forget them. This is still the greatest spectacle in history, with or without fans.
Who knows, you could witness history as Dixie goes for another win and continues to smash the record books. Or, you could see the day Marco Andretti steps out of the shadow of his father and grandfather and claims the families second 500 win.
I’ll leave the last word to Mario Andretti who after 29 Indy 500s knows a thing or two about this classic event.
He believes his grandson has always had what it takes. Before Marco’s final run in qualifying in very windy and challenging conditions he advised Marco, “The wind will scare you but it will never crash you.”
After his grandson took the pole he said, “I hope it’s the beginning of something good, career-wise for him, because now he knows he can do it. I always knew he could, but the driver has to believe, and I feel so good for him.”
The Indy 500 rarely disappoints, and I think the 104th has all the hallmarks of being a classic.
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