Pre Indy 500 Race Activities 5/24/09

In Feb. 2009 some very dear friends told us they have been going to the Indy 500 race for the last 17 years and were not planning on going in 2009. We said we would take all 6 tickets and $80.00 each didn't seem as much as we thought they would be, for one of the worlds most famous sporting events.

The pre race parade of celebrities in Corvette Pace cars. This is sportscaster Dick Vitale.

And this is Mario Lopez, having someplace better to be looking than saying hello to the crowd!!! Guess all the cameras were not focused on him.

These soldiers unfurled this very huge flag for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

Many ,many trucks went by that had military from all branches of the services who just returned from war. Huge big cheers for all of them. Even the crews from the tow trucks were on the track saluting them.

The Tuskegee Airmen flew 2 vintage B24 Mitchell Bombers in the fly over.

The balloon release of red, white and blue balloons.

The track is 2 1/2 miles around so it is impossible to see the whole track. Actually I think we saw about only 1/4 th of it. So they have all these big screens around the whole complex.

Jim Nabors singing "Back Home Again in Indiana".

And what everyone was waiting for - "Ladies & Gentlemen Start Your Engines"!!!!