The Official Blog of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Earlier in the summer I attended the Indianapolis 500.  On Sunday, July 31^st, 2011 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) hosted the 18^th Annual Brickyard 400, which was the first Brickyard 400 I had ever attended. I didn’t know what to expect. I had never been to a NASCAR Race before. I wondered how the NASCAR cars would compare to open wheeled cars.

Before the race I went to the infield. We passed by the Pagoda and noticed a big crowd, so we went to see what was happening. Security blew whistles and one white van after another pulled up through the crowd of people. I saw the majority of the drivers and family members as they walked through the Pagoda to the otherside to prepare for the race. It was amazing to be so close to the drivers.

Grace Ybarra - Scholastic Kid Reporter

Before the race, I watched Desert Storm/Shield Veterans, Mayor Greg Ballard, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire on the winners podium. At the end of the National Anthem there was a US Navy T-45 Goshawk Jet Flyover and hundreds of red, white, and blue balloons were released into the sky. I loved hearing IMS Chairman of the Board, Mary Hulman George, say those famous words “Gentlemen, start your engines.”  I was very excited that Hope Solo, US Women’s Soccer Goalie, came to the Brickyard to drive the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport pace car around for two laps before the start of the race.

When I was walking through the tunnel to get to our seats I put my hand on the top of the tunnel and you could feel the cars drive over your head. Every time the cars passed by your entire body shook. The NASCAR cars are definitely louder than IndyCars.

Once in our seats we watched the cars race around and pit. During the middle of the race Kyle Busch was leaving his pit while his neighbor, Tony Stewart was entering his pit. Kyle drove straight while Tony drove left into him. Both cars were damaged so they entered the pits and both pit crews took out sledgehammers and started beating the car back into shape.   The sledgehammer is definetly something you definitely don’t see in open wheel racing.

I really enjoyed the unique designs on the NASCAR cars.  My favorite car was Kyle Busch’s M&M Car.  Even the tires advertised M&Ms with the multicolored M&Ms in the center of the tires.

Kyle Bush in the pits - Photo by Grace Ybarra

As the race neared the end, it was anybody’s race. After most cars pitted during the last twenty laps it was certainly unclear who was going to win it. When Jeff Gordon entered the pits he was in first place but when he came out of the pits he was in 18^th place. Nothing stopped him though. He sped past 16 drivers and landed himself in second place on the final white flag lap. Paul Menard still stood in front of him.  On turn four Gordon was close enough to catch Menard, although he didn’t pull it off. Menard came zooming across the bricks for his first NASCAR win. He drove his yellow 27 car in circles with smoke filling the air. The last five laps was pure adreneline.

I was glad to see such an exciting finish for my first Brickyard 400.

What was your first Brickyard 400 experience like?

Build Your Own Brickyard Experience is an interactive fan website that allows you to learn more about Brickyard experiences, choose how you would build your own experience, and then share what your Brickyard 400 experience looks like with friends and family. This blog series follows Brickyard 400 fans and their experience and tips for attending a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In this edition, a die-hard NASCAR fan offers up her tips for attending the Brickyard 400.

About our die-hard NASCAR fan: Nicie is a retired Head Start Preschool teacher and now works part time as a monitor on the Head Start Preschool bus. Her spare time is always filled by anything and everything NASCAR. Nicie has traveled from Southern California for the Brickyard 400 for the past six years.

Do you attend any other races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Nicie has dragged her husband, a retired Marine, to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway time and time again so that they can experience the live thrill of racing, and he himself has grown to love the sport. Her son is an avid MotoGP fan and returns to the track every year for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Her love of the sport has also rubbed off on her friends who have started to attend events at the California Speedway. Nicie would love to get her friends to Indy this year.

What’s special about the Brickyard? The fans are the best part of the Brickyard 400, according to Nicie. She loves to cheer for the #2 Miller Lite car and ironically always seems to end up next to a Bud fan. Nicie believes the fans get special treatment at the Brickyard because the service is top of the line.

What’s her advice for a Rookie Race Attendee? Nicie’s advice for first-time NASCAR attendees is to buy a program and listen to the commentators. Doing both of those things will make it easier to understand the rules of the race. If you don’t want to buy a program, you can always ask the person in the seat beside you. Nicie is also a big fan of the yellow shirts. She says they are more than helpful.

Kurt Busch at the 2010 Brickyard 400

What’s her favorite NASCAR moment? Nicie has a hard time choosing a favorite NASCAR moment because she loves them all. “I’m just a loving NASCAR fan!” she explained.

Ready to Build Your Own Brickyard Experience? Start by checking out what a die-hard NASCAR fan might do to build their own Brickyard Experience here!

Fan of everything IMS? Check out our post from last month here. Bringing out your family? Read more about what a family experience might look like here. Young Professional? Check out the first post in this series here!

Build Your Own Brickyard Experience is an interactive fan website that allows you to learn more about Brickyard experiences, choose how you would build your own experience, and then share what your Brickyard 400 experience looks like with friends and family.

This blog series follows Brickyard 400 fans and their experience and tips for attending a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Are you new to the Brickyard 400? Jennifer Meyering, blogging to share her experiences as the winner of an all-expenses paid trip to the 2011 Brickyard 400 race from NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin (read more here), shares how she will build her own Brickyard Experience:

Recently, I checked out this great website from the IMS that tells you about the various Brickyard 400 race weekend activities and lets you “Build Your Own Brickyard” experience. I was lucky enough to win my tickets and a trip to this year’s Brickyard 400 from Denny Hamlin in a Twitter contest, but I still decided to give it a try! Here are some of the activities I picked for my Brickyard Experience, and why…

The first thing I looked for was a chance to visit Gasoline Alley. I mean, isn’t this part of the ultimate Indy Motor Speedway experience? To be able to see the cars, crews, and maybe a driver or two, go back and forth- that’s what Gasoline Alley is about to me. I had to include this in my experience.

Another thing I included was Kiss the Bricks. Again, when you think of Indy Motor Speedway, you think of that yard of bricks that the winner gets to kiss. And isn’t the name of the race the BRICKyard 400… That right there tells you how important the bricks are. For me, no Brickyard 400 experience would be complete without including “Kiss the Bricks”.

Fans pose and Kiss the Bricks during the 2010 Brickyard 400 weekend

One of my son’s favorite things about NASCAR is the pit stops. He often plays with his Legos and makes cars and then pretends to take them through pit stops. He loves to talk about changing tires and carrying tires and fueling the car. I had to include “Time for a Pit Stop” on my Brickyard Experience.

A young fan takes a pit stop challenge

During our previous race experience, we were able to go back and see teams working on the cars in the garages. This was one of the highlights of our race weekend, because we found out just how wonderful all the team members are on the race teams. We were able to interact with many of them and they showed us how NASCAR really does care about it’s fans. So when I saw that I could include “NASCAR Garage Area” as part of my Brickyard Experience, I couldn’t pass it up!

A glimpse into Juan Pablo Montoya's Garage

One of the great things about NASCAR is how fan-friendly the drivers are. They rarely pass up a chance to sign autographs and give back to the fans. My son loves collecting autographs, and, well, so do I! When I was looking around the website at the various experiences, I saw that there was not one, but two experiences I could add to try to get autographs- “Thunder Alley” and “Can You Sign My…?”

Another experience that was an absolute necessity to add was the “And the Winner is…” To be able to see a driver win one of the biggest races in the NASCAR season in person is just so exciting! Even though going to a race is about much more than seeing who takes the checkered flag, seeing that is definitely high on the list of must-do’s!

During a NASCAR race (or practice), it’s great to be able to listen to the interaction between a driver and his crew on the scanners. Also, as a parent, the scanners and headphones are great for decreasing the noise of the cars for kids. My son loves being able to switch back and forth between drivers and hear what they say! These reasons are why I added the “Scanning all Frequencies” to my Brickyard 400 experience.

There were many other great options that I added to my Brickyard 400 Experience. Some of them include, eating hot dogs, watching qualifying and practice, and taking lots of pictures (lots and lots!). Honestly, it was hard to choose from all the different things there are to do when attending the Brickyard 400. And if I went back and made my experience again, I bet it wouldn’t look the same- something else would catch my eye and I would that!!!

Ready to Build Your Own Brickyard Experience?  Check out what Jennifer’s experience looks like here.

New to this blog series? Check out the first post from a young professional in this series here.

Just love racing in general? Check out how a fan of the IMS might build their own Brickyard experience here.

Bringing out your family? Read more about what a family experience might look like here.

Build Your Own Brickyard Experience is an interactive fan website that allows you to learn more about Brickyard experiences, choose how you would build your own experience, and then share what your Brickyard 400 experience looks like with friends and family.
This blog series follows Brickyard 400 fans and their experience and tips for attending a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Are you a fan of anything and everything happening at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Read on to find out Mike’s tips for attending the Brickyard 400:

Tell us about yourself, your family, your friends, are you from Indianapolis?

Born in Indy, grew up with the 500.  Family of 3 children, Mitch, Mollie and her husband Phil Shults and granddaughter Raine and Mike, plus my better half Kim.  Have “peddled paint” for 45 years, currently with IVC Industrial Coatings.

How long have you been attending the Brickyard 400 and do you attend any other events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

I have attended every racing event at the IMS for the past 50 plus years.  The family has been a part of this “party” for almost that long.  We have attended every Brickyard Race.

Fans line up along Gasoline Alley at the 2010 Brickyard 400

What is your favorite part about coming out the Brickyard race?

My favorite part is the memories created within the family at each event, we have a great time with family and also the customers that I entertain as well, gathering before and after the race. for good camaraderie, food and drink and of course the “Race Pool”.  The start of the race, Goose Bumps!!!!!!

What makes the Brickyard special and different from other NASCAR races?

What can I say, it’s Indy, the most famous race track in the world.  I have attended others, here and abroad, but nothing compares.

What are your “insider” tips for someone attending the race for the first time?

Arrive early to enjoy the festivities and plan to stay late and not let the traffic frustrate you.  Relax and enjoy!!!!  Bring Water!!!!

Share your favorite Brickyard memory and race moment:

My favorite race moments so far are the first wins of Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart.  Local boy’s doin’ good!

Mike Mott poses with family and friends at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Ready to Build Your Own Brickyard Experience? Start by checking out what a Fan of the IMS might do to build their own Brickyard experience here.

Bringing out your family. Read more about what a family experience might look like here. Young Professional? Check out the first post in this series here!

Build Your Own Brickyard Experience is an interactive fan website that allows you to learn more about Brickyard experiences, choose how you would build your own experience, and then share what your Brickyard 400 experience looks like with friends and family. This blog series follows Brickyard 400 fans and their experience and tips for attending a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Are you a young professional? Read on to find out Annie’s tips for attending the Brickyard 400:

Tell us about yourself, your family, your friends, are you from Indianapolis?
My name is Jimmie McMillian. My wife’s name is Tamara McMillian. We have twin 2 year old boys Lance and Xavier. We are both originally from Chicago. I have lived in Indianapolis for 11 years. My wife has lived here for 6 years. We are both attorneys.

We are fully committed Hoosiers. We have a significant family presence in the city of Indianapolis. Our friends range from our colleagues in the Indianapolis Legal Community, to my fraternity brothers in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Tam’s sorority sisters in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and our motorcycle club brothers and sisters in 317 Ryders M/C. At various points and time throughout our time in Indianapolis, we have shared the joy of attending events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with our family and friends.

How long have you been attending the Brickyard 400 and do you attend any other events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? I have been attending the Brickyard 400 since 2001. I have attended the Indianapolis 500 race. We attended the Formula One race with The Honorable Justice Frank Sullivan Jr. of the Indiana Supreme Court. As avid motorcyclist we have attended all of the Indianapolis Redbull MotoGP events.

What is your favorite part about coming out the Brickyard race?
The sights and sounds that are signatures of NASCAR racing. NASCAR fans are so visibly committed to their driver. T-Shirts, Hats, Coolers, Flags, Headsets. Each and every lap you can feel the eager anticipation that something may happen to bring their driver to the front. You can feel the power of the cars in the sound of the engines. Attending the Brickyard 400 makes you feel so proud to be an American. From the National Anthem and flyover to the winner crossing the row of bricks it is a great adrenaline rush. We sit in the Pagoda section across from Pit Road. The cars and paint schemes are great. To watch the Pit Crews perform is amazing. It is truly a bucket list experience.

Kurt Busch's crew executes a pit stop at the 2010 Brickyard 400

What makes the Brickyard special and different from other NASCAR races?
It is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the most historic raceway in all of motorsports. Everyone wants to be a winner in Indy. When you go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum you instantly understand the long history of this race track and its importance to the owners, drivers and pit crew that compete for the bragging rights to say I won in Indy and I kissed the row of bricks.

2010 Brickyard 400 Winner Jamie McMurray takes the Checkered Flag across the Yard of Bricks

What are your “insider” tips for someone attending the race for the first time?
Be prepared for a potentially blazing hot day. It gets very hot here in August. Come prepared with lots of water. Make sure you give yourself time to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum while you are at the track.

Share your favorite Brickyard memory and race moment:
Tony Stewart winning the Brickyard 400 in 2005 and climbing the fence. I yelled and screamed for every lap. I was constantly on my feet. I felt like I was in the car driving with him. I am a huge Tony Stewart fan. He is from Indiana. So many people in the stands were high fiving, hugging each other and just celebrating after the win. As we were walking to the car, everyone was in such a great mood. It was fantastic.

Ready to Build Your Own Brickyard Experience? Start by checking out what a Family experience might look like here.

Young Professional? Check out the last post in this series here!

Build Your Own Experience

Build Your Own Brickyard Experience is an interactive fan website that allows you to learn more about Brickyard experiences, choose how you would build your own experience, and then share what your Brickyard 400 experience looks like with friends and family. This blog series follows Brickyard 400 fans and their experience and tips for attending a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Are you a young professional? Read on to find out Annie’s tips for attending the Brickyard 400:

Tell us about yourself, your family, your friends, are you from Indianapolis?

My name is Annie. I am 25 years old. I have 2 wonderful parents whom I love spending time with. I am an only child but consider my close friends as family. I am from the north side of Indianapolis.

How long have you been attending the Brickyard 400? Do you attend any other events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

I have attended the Brickyard for about 15 years. My family and I also attend the Indianapolis 500 every year.

What is your favorite part about coming out the Brickyard 400?

My favorite part about the 400 is the fact that I get to step foot inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I love the feel and sense of history I get every time I go under the tunnel entrance.

Annie and her dad at the 2009 Brickyard 400

What makes the Brickyard special and different from other NASCAR races?

What makes the 400 different is that this race is run at the most prestigious race track in the world. History was and still is made at the Speedway every year, every race. Any race event you attend at the Speedway, is witnessing history.

What are your “insider” tips for someone attending the race for the first time?

Expect the unexpected. You will see, hear, and smell some odd things, but you MUST make the walk down Georgetown and through the Coke Lot. Embrace the moment.

Share your favorite Brickyard memory and race moment:

My favorite Brickyard moment was when Tony Stewart won the race in 2007. My parents and I are Tony Stewart fans. We sat in a crowd of NON Smoke fans. One gentleman behind me had a story about how Tony “stole” his fiance. They were joking with us throughout most of the race but we kept cheering for Tony every lap he ran. Once he captured the checkers, my parents and I let out a huge sigh. We screamed and cheered so loud when he climbed the fence. On Tony’s victory lap, he decided the grab the microphone and thanked all of his fans for sticking by him and supporting him. It felt good to have “my” driver win and thank me for supporting him. After the crowd let out, my parents and I made that memorable walk down Georgetown, wearing our #20 Home Depot Tony Stewart shirts proudly.

2007 Brickyard 400 Winner Tony Stewart poses on the Yard of Bricks

Ready to Build Your Own Brickyard Experience? Start by checking out what a Young Professional’s experience might look like by clicking here!