Here is how you can tell I’m not a pure blood Hoosier:* I don’t care for the Indy 500. There, I said it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy the race is huge. And, if I had to pick a racing event, I’d happily pick the 500 above the others. But, I just don’t get racing. To me, it’s a little like standing along side the Interstate and watching traffic.
(*I’m 5th generation Hoosier on my father’s side. Near as I can figure, the first Masson moved from Cincinnati to Indianapolis in the 1840s or thereabouts. From there, they lived in Indianapolis until Dad moved out of town in the 1960s. On my Mom’s side, however, I have a lot of Buckeye and a fair number of Missourians; reminding me of Abe Simpson on Missouri: “I’ll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missourah.”)
I grew up within earshot of the track, and I remember getting dragged to practice and quals about every other year. I was never really interested after I hit about 7 or 8 years old. To me, the race is just loud noise and bad traffic jams.
I remember moving a family who lived in Speedway about 20 years ago (dang I feel old saying that!) Anyway, the part they were going to miss most about uprooting from there and moving to Richmond was all the revenue they made in the month of May allowing people to park on their yard.
Don’t feel bad/guilty – I’m glad someone said it!
I live here in Central Indiana and when the natives find out that I’m not a race fan, it’s almost equivalent to saying I’m unAmerican ;).
I am though, a huge supporter of anything that brings a community together. The race does that. So does the Colts.