100th INDY 500!

It seems appropriate that the 100Th running of the Indy 500 would take place in a time when the best Open Wheel Drivers are on the track once again. After the division which created CART vs. Indy Drivers they are all brought back together and settled into real competition. What is interesting about drivers in this Open Wheel sport, is although the competitive juices are flowing through their veins, this is a very tight group. Friends for the most part. Something else you may not know, there are very few egos to speak of. They are also the nicest people you will ever meet or talk with. Granted everyone who watches "Dancing With The Stars" knows who Helio Castroneves is. And there is no one on the Earth who does not know the name Andretti. Still, these guys (Ok, not Mario) can walk down the street (Ok and not Danica) and no one bothers them. They can live a fairly normal life, living their dream and experience rock star status during a race weekend and have it all go away on Monday morning. Maybe that is one reason why they are not too full of themselves. It's refreshing. The teams and drivers are also painfully aware that with the popularity of NASCAR, Indy Car has to fight for every PR opportunity they can get. Even the World Wide Leader in Sports would rather show a story on a last place MLB team, than take the same amount of time to show an amazing story on an Open Wheel driver...unless ofcourse it is the week of the Indy 500. They actually have races that go on all year. Just like NASCAR. Seems most media and fans are unaware. We can hope that someday the lack of knowledge will go away.
Something that never goes away is the dream to win the Indy 500. For some drivers it is a dream that comes to life and for some a living heartbreak. Ask the Andretti's how they have been so close and so far away from winning at this track. Mario did win it once but it was not without controversy. Michael almost beat his son on the last lap and at the last second they were both passed by Sam Hornish Jr. In the case of Helio Castronoeves and AJ Foyt, it is like being on your very own track where you win on more than anyone!
Indy is elusive, magical, historical. Now it also has the best talent in Open Wheel racing competing...and it only took 100 years. Lets hope everyone watches!