The Official Blog of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

A year out of high School and living in my 1^st place on my own, ½ of a double 1 house off of Crawfordsville Road and Gerrard (for racing fanatics, behind what would later become Hurtubise’s Muffler Shop) I was close to what I called Utopia, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Along with my best friend Dave, whose family had connections to the longtime car owner Lindsey Hopkins, we approached May with great anticipation.   In our hands ( our 19year old hands I might add), were 2 season Gate Passes, a Garage Area Pass each AND 2 great tickets to the race in the grandstands (yeah, like 2 nineteen year old testosterone loaded boys could sit still for 4 hours in a grandstand seat when the infield Snakepit was loaded with gorgeous cuties) and we couldn’t wait until Opening Day.

As I recall (and a LOT of time has passed since then), all days possible were spent there at the track.  As Race Day approached, my main entry (Crawfordsville Road) to my “digs” on Gerrard kept loading up with race fans and revelers and soon my 1 room studio flat became a “crash house” for other friends old and new.

Hopkins & Marshman

We partied for 3 days and on race day we had, of course, sold our great tickets and headed for the infield (with new general admission ducats acquired from another source).  We had a great time until the big crash and drifted through the rest of the race in stunned silence (we were race fans too!). I still remember the silence of the crowd and the PA announcements that day………

AJ Foyt - Winner of the 1964 Indy 500

AJ Foyt won the race, the last winning front engine car to do so, for his 2^nd win.

Little did I realize what the Speedway would become to me and the career I would make of it.

Old time residents of the Town of Speedway and historians like Donald Davidson tell stories about Indy 500 drivers staying at houses in Speedway during the month of May.  This tradition lasted into the 1980s.  I am not sure if any Indy 500 drivers stayed at my house prior to me purchasing it, but I can now say that Dan Wheldon’s uniform slept at my house the night he won the 100th Anniversary Indy 500.  Let me explain…

My cousin’s daughter, Emily Jones, is interning this summer with Bryan Herta Autosport.  During her internship, she is staying at my house.  As an intern for a smaller IndyCar team, she experienced a wide range of duties during May.  Some of her duties included carrying Dan’s helmet to the pits when he headed out on the track, assisting in the entertainment of guests at the team’s suite, helping hand out several thousand William Rast Racing Team hats and t-shirts, and picking up guests and team members at the airport.  As a member of the team, she was included in the team’s qualifying photo, victory lane photo, and victory dinner photo. On the night of Dan’s historic win, as the intern on the team, she was asked to take Dan’s uniform and wash it so that it would be clean for the winner’s photo shoot on Monday.  The uniform was stained with milk, champagne, and possibly some other mysterious fluid.  Since Emily is staying with me, she brought the uniform to my house to wash it.  The uniform spent the night hanging to dry in my basement.  It was then ready for the Winner’s Photo Shoot on Monday morning. I know this is not quite as exciting as some of the other stories Speedway residents have about Indy 500 drivers staying at their house, but I can now say that the night he won the 100th Anniversary Indy 500, Dan Wheldon’s Uniform slept here. (P.S. – The milk bottle Dan drank from after winning the race magically appeared on my kitchen counter a few days later.  Don’t worry, the bottle is now safely in Dan’s possession.)

The Novi engine in 1964

Throughout its 100-year history, there have been many great cars that have competed in the Indianapolis 500 – cars that ranged from cutting-edge innovation to legendary performance. But it’s likely the most popular car in Indianapolis 500 history is one that never won the race – the Novi.

Ask any longtime fan that has come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedways in the last 60 years, and they will never forget the Novi. That’s because it was so loud it would leave the spectators ears ringing long after the race had concluded.

“It was a one of a kind car – it had a sound to it that never ended,” said famed Novi car owner Andy Granatelli. “The Novi had such a sound to it that whether there were 32 other cars in the race you could hear it above all the other cars. When the other cars were on the backstretch, you couldn’t hear them at all, but you could hear the Novi. The Novi had a sound to it that you wouldn’t believe. People would hear that car and say the hair on the back of their neck would stand up. It was unbelievable. I was in love with the Novi, which is why I bought them.”

The Novi was ahead of its time in many ways. It was a double-overhead cam V8 with a bigger bore and a shorter stroke that made its first appearance in the 1941 Indy 500 when Ralph Hepburn drove the Bowes Seal Fast Special to a fourth-place finish.

“That was 20 years before Detroit even thought about that and 50 years before they built the double-overhead cam so that was way ahead of its time,” Granatelli said. “The other cars turned 4,000 or 5,000 rpm, and the Novi turned 10,000 rpm.” [More]

Indy 500 weekend is officially here (yes, I start my weekends on Thursday) and I don’t know about you but I’m ready to get this party started! While the race may not be until Sunday, there’s plenty of action to check out between now and then. Here’s a rundown of the events on my schedule. You’ll also find information about each event as well as their Twitter handle if available and of course you can follow my weekend on Twitter too (@lesalina)!

Where will you be?

Thursday, May 26

Jocktails at the 500 / Jocktails After-party

7 pm – 10 pm Invite Only Event

10 pm – 3 am After-party, open to the public

Jocktails at the 500 will feature some of the biggest names related to the Indy 500, and other local celebrities using their star power to raise money for this year’s beneficiary, Racing for Cancer (www.racingforcancer.org). 100% of the tips raised from the event will be donated to the organization. While the event may be by invite only, the after-party is open to all and will be hosted by yours truly!

Info: Jocktails Celebrity After-party Hosted by Leslie Bailey, Blu Lounge, 240 S. Meridian St.
Indianapolis. Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jocktails/131277730281798?v=info for more information.

Follow this event on Twitter: @Jocktails, @RacingForCancer

Friday, May 27 – Carb Day

Firestone Freedom 100

12 pm

One happy Carb Day fan

Don’t miss the 9^th Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This is your chance to witness the future stars of IndyCar in action! And it’s only 40 laps which means you’ll have plenty of time to get to the rest of the Carb Day activities.

Info: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Miler Lite Carb Day Tickets: $20

Follow this event on Twitter: @IndyCar

Miller Lite Carb Day Concert featuring Staind with Special Guests Papa Roach

3:30 pm

Remember them? This concert is free with Carb Day admission so get your beer and prepare for a flashback to the 90’s. Grab yourself a beer and enjoy! (Please drink responsibly. Nobody likes that guy at a concert.)

Info: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Miller Lite Card Day Tickets:$20

Saturday, May 28

IPL 500 Festival Parade

12 pm

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper leads the two-mile procession of floats, marching bands and all 33 competing drivers. Fun for the whole family! If you’re not purchasing reserved seats, make sure to arrive early to get a good spot as you will be joining more than 300,000 spectators for this 54 year tradition.

Info: Pennsylvania and North Streets, Reserved seats are $14.50; $18 and $32. Visit http://www.500festival.com/parade/ for more information.

Follow this event on Twitter: @500Festival

FANtasy 500 Race Party

9 pm – 3 am

The 4^th annual FANtasty Race Party will be hosted by television personality Catt Sadler, recording artist and actress Christina Milian, and CNN’s ‘Morning Express’ host Carlos Diaz. Held at the historic Columbia Club on Monument circle, this event is sure to be the hottest party of the night.

Info: The Columbia Club, 121 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN, Tickets: $75 General Admission/$100 Moet VIP Lounge. Visit http://www.fantasy500party.com/ for more information.

Sunday, May 29 – Race Day

The Centennial Indianapolis 500

12 pm

The green flag drops

Celebrate one hundred years of history on the track as 33 drivers race for the checkered flag. Personally, I’m looking forward to the Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500 World Record Jump Attempt at 10:40 am and watching the National Anthem performed by David Foster, Seal & Kelly Clarkson during the pre-race festivities, but nothing – I mean nothing, beats the sound of those famous words and hearing the engines roar.

Info: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tickets: $30 and up. Visit http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com for more information.

Follow this event on Twitter: @IMS

On Bump Day the Indianapolis Motor Speedway remembered Charles Wilson, friend, life coach to youth and full-on racer. Charles, the president of Nexgeneracers, an organization founded to assist youngsters to learn all aspects of motorsports – driving, mechanics and business – passed away on April 8 after a spirited battle with cancer.

Jonathan, Kyaire, and Matthew - Nexgeneracers

In attendance were Charles’ mother Patsy Wilson and his aunt and uncle Helen and Thurman Henderson. Also, a host of his students, members of Nexgeneracers, and IMS board member Jack Snyder. Rodney Reid,  the President of Nexgeneracers, presided over the gathering which included friends and community leaders. Snyder read a proclamation declaring that IMS will place a commemorative brick with Charles’ name in the Speedway’s plaza behind the famed pagoda in appreciation for his contributions to auto racing and to the lives of young people.

Nexgeneracers Organization

At the conclusion of the memorial, legendary Indy 500 driver Willy T. Ribbs spoke to the gathering to tell the young drivers that their dream was within their grasp – but only through hard work and persistence. Ribbs spoke of his own determination and how he focused on his goals to overcome obstacles and realize tremendous success. During his career he competed in Indy-style racing through six full seasons in addition to several races in NASCAR Sprint Cup. He won six races in Trans-Am sports car road racing competition and was UK Formula Ford champion early in his career.

The day served as an opportunity for the IMS to connect with an up and coming pool of racing talent. Indianapolis should get to know the Nexgeneracers.

Willy T. Ribbs waves the green flag on Bump Day

Roger Penske, left, and Bobby Allison in 1973 at Indianapolis

Throughout his career, Bobby Allison has always been known as a “racer’s racer.” Even at the height of his stardom as a NASCAR stock car driver, Allison still competed at the local short tracks throughout the United States so that he kept in touch with “his people” – the grassroots race fans who idolized the leader of the “Alabama Gang.”

From the “grassroots,” Allison made it to the “hallowed grounds” by racing in the Indianapolis 500 in 1973 and 1975 for famed team owner Roger Penske. And while his NASCAR career was legendary, earning him a place in the second induction class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame this week, his time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway did not include similar success.

“My Indy deal was not really very good,” Allison said. “Donnie’s was great, and mine was just the opposite. The first time there I blew up on the pace lap. That was a heartbreak, especially after devoting a month to it and missing three NASCAR races to get the preparation done. Two years later, Roger Penske begged me to go on back, and I gave it another try. I actually led the 23^rd lap in 1975, but then the car had all kinds of problems. It got a lap down from a bad fuel leak and I was getting my lap back at halfway, and then the engine blew up again.”

Allison’s brother, Donnie, preceded Bobby’s appearance in the Indianapolis 500. Donnie Allison finished fourth and was named Rookie of the Year at Indy in 1970. He finished sixth in 1971.

“Donnie went up there and did well, and I was proud of him,” Bobby said. “At the time, Indy-car racing was different from so many standpoints. There were several guys that wanted to run very limited schedules, and I wanted to run everywhere. There were guys who were used to getting paid a lot of money just to be there and at that time I wasn’t getting paid money just to show up. Roger Penske insisted that I run that test. At the time, I was driving for my own team in NASCAR.”

[More]

Two sentences that no driver wants to hear paired together: “Pole Day” and “All Time Low.” On a day where speeds are increasing rapidly as drivers work to secure spots 1 – 24 in a race day field that will comprise of merely 33 the IMS has been filled with fans, young and old as well as drivers, young and old.

IMS Historian Donald Davidson greeted former Indy 500 Pole Winners Bobby Unser (’72, ’81 poles), Al Unser Jr. (’94 pole), Roberto Guerrero (’92 pole), and Arie Luyendyk (’99, ’97, ’93 poles) for a Q & A session at the Coca Cola stage this morning. Camped out in front of the stage? Fans ages 12 – 17…. not fans of the living Pole Winners, but rather — the alternative rock band All Time Low, slated to play from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. on the  Coca Cola stage.

Roberto Guerrero, Bobby Unser, Al Unser Jr. and Arie Luyendyk talk about winning the Pole

Their eagerness to see the show from the front row meant taking in Bobby Unser as he shared what it meant to win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — that his career, his name, is all because of how he performed at the ultimate Motorsports proving ground. And listening the Roberto Guerrero share the anxiety of attempting to run all out to earn the pole. And Al Unser as he shared that every race he ran and won prior to winning the pole in 1994 was really only preparation for the Indianapolis 500.

How could they not help but listen to the Indy 500 legends share their passion for the Indianapolis 500?

Bobby Unser shares what it means to win at Indy

Fans have traveled from across the U.S. today to catch their favorite performers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For most, the lure is drivers on the track, but for many — including the four girls dwindling the time before the show near the main gate this afternoon, fresh out of the car from Cincinnati and waiting on more friends to arrive from Milwaukee and Chicago, a rock band at a unique venue is more than enough to warrant the drive.

And me? I smiled as Bobby Unser stated that team owners hire drivers ready to give 110% to win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, got excited when the All Time Low fans shared that they first heard about the concert on Twitter and admitted that they had no interest in watching the on-track action of Pole Day, reminisced about concerts and sporting events I’ve driven extensive distances to get to (far too many to list here), then came inside to share a few photos and type up a few words while listening to All Time Low’s MTV Unplugged album on my mp3 player.

Luyendyk shares insight on taking the Pole

CONTINUED….

As rain came down on the speedway, the lead singer of All Time Low yelled out to the crowd “We’ve made the rain come down and we’re all here, surviving the rapture at IMS.” The rapture, or viral myth that the world might end today, rain, and start to their set may have coincided, but the band played on and kept the crowd energized despite a lack of track activity.

Fans fill the Pagoda Plaza for All Time Low

Playing to a younger crowd at the IMS

Great to welcome new fans to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today – be sure to take a look at the rest of our month of May music line up and keep an eye out on our website and Twitter @IMS for upcoming concert announcements through the summer! “Here’s to the fast times; the times we felt alive.” [All Time Low - Party Scene]

In the words of All Time Low - Dear Maria, Count Me In

Tom Beeler is a lifelong Indianapolis resident and occasional car collector. He is a senior editor with the racing news group, Racing Information Service and is slated to share his Pace Car collection with fans at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Pace Car Reunion on Saturday, May 21st. Read below to discover more about Tom’s passion for his collection….

Growing up in Indianapolis during May in the 1960s was a special time. Part of that was that excitement was the arrival of the pace cars to the streets of Indy.

I loved it. Powerful cars in garish paint with huge letters painted on the doors and fenders. What’s not to love?

The first pace car to really catch my attention was the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. Sexy, white and “Hugger” orange, cowl induction hood, houndstooth interior, hideaway headlights. To this day, it’s one of the most iconic Indianapolis 500 pace cars, as evidenced by the choice of this year’s pace car.

1969 Camaro

To a child of the ‘60s, growing up in Indy, pace cars were mystic and powerful – emblematic of America’s car culture.

Years later, I understand the marketing, but the appeal of driving a car that looks like it paced the greatest race in the world still makes me smile.

Getting the fans involved in the pace car culture began in 1953, the 50^th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company. The Ford Crestline Sunliner was chosen to pace the 500. Ford anticipated demand for the car and built about 2000 replicas of the actual pace car, the first time this was done.

Two of the most-popular pace cars continue to be the 1969 Camaro and the 1978 Corvette.

It wasn’t until I had the cash to have a “spare” car that I could enter the mystical order of pace car owners. My funds were modest, so I aimed for the 1984 Pontiac Fiero. Pontiac made 2000 replicas of the Fiero pace car. It looked fast sitting still.

1984 Fiero

That year, I bought tickets to the 500 Festival Mayor’s Breakfast, which was then the only way Average Joes like me could drive a lap on the Speedway. Doing that in a pace car made it even better.

Years later, I made the unintended transition into “car collector” when a friend asked me, “Are you still looking for a ’69 Camaro pace car?” Enter my second pace car replica.

In 2006, both cars were parked amongst their brightly-colored, gaudily-lettered brethren along Hulman Boulevard during the first Pace Car Reunion.

Knowing that the centennial running of the 500 would likely bring another reunion at the Speedway, I started hunting for uncommon pace cars to bring.

My third pace car – quite possibly the ACTUAL pace car – was the 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser. This was the pace car given to race winner Sam Hanks and his wife, Alice. “Turnpike Cruiser” – the name screams 1950s America. Parking it is like docking an aircraft carrier.

My 1953 Ford Sunliner pace car joined the herd last year.

The 1992 pace car, which was actually a 1993 model, was the Cadillac Allante. The Allante appealed to me because of its Northstar engine and beautiful Pininfarina body work.

The 1992 Allante

My most-recent pace car is one of the actual 2003 Cheverolet SSR pace vehicles, Vehicle Identification Number 4. Electrical problems the day before the race demoted the car to support on Race Day, but it was the vehicle in which race winner Gil deFerran took his victory lap around the track.

The SSR was missing the strobes, belts and extinguisher, but some detective work and dedicated friends helped get all the requisite pieces reinstalled and running.

2003 SSR

I’ll be bringing four of my pace cars to the Speedway this week. I’m jazzed to see so many pace car owners who share my passion for these cars similarly dedicated to sharing their cars with fans of this great race.

Whether they’re Corvettes, Mustangs, Cutlasses, Challengers, Vipers, Champions, Bonnevilles, Comets, Furies, Adventurers and a host of other model names, they are a big part of the culture of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

And a lot of us love keeping them on the road.

Casey Mears, left, and Roger Mears

As the eldest member and leader of the famed “Mears Gang,” Roger Mears took a unique path to the Indianapolis 500.

He actually followed his younger brother, Rick, to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In fact, Rick – who is 5 years younger than Roger — had already competed in four Indy 500s and scored one victory before Roger made the starting lineup for the 1982 500 Mile Race.

“Rick came over to Indy cars and did very, very well, and that opened the door for me,” Roger said. “I was actually headed toward stock cars and off-road at the time. I feel very fortunate that I did get the opportunity to run there for a few years. I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get to run as long or as much as I would like, but I did what I could and did what I had to work with.”

The “Mears Gang” was among the best off-road racers that ever drove through the desert, and after the 1983 CART season, Roger had the opportunity to return to off-road where he continued an impressive career.

“Some opportunities opened up for me to go off-road full time, and I felt I had a better shot at making a full-time career out of it, which I did,” Roger said. “I rode the off-road wave that took off in the early 1980s and rode it into the 1990s and had the time of my life.”

Roger Mears’ career included stock car racing in the Bakersfield, Calif., area in addition to off-road racing. Rick was a noted off-road race but branched out to Formula Fords and Super Vee racing in the 1970s. That opened the way for Rick to head into Indy-style racing.

“We raced every weekend to have fun and we just loved doing it, and all of a sudden it turned into a career, which was a dream come true for all of us,” Roger said.

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Who’s going to the be the “1″ this year?

1961 – A. J. Foyt won a great battle with Eddie Sachs in the Golden Anniversary ‘500,’ in which both drivers saw their share of problems – but A. J. would prevail.  This was the first of Foyt’s four Indy wins.  Also of historic footnote, Foyt is the only driver to win in both front- and rear-engine cars at Indy … two wins in each.

1971 – Al Unser wins his second straight Indianapolis 500 in the beautiful Johnny Lightning Special.  In his first win the previous year, Al led 190 laps, in 1971 he led 103, dominating both races.  Unser would capture two more ‘500s’ to join Foyt as the second driver with four Memorial Day weekend wins.

The greatest front row ever?

1981 – Who can forget Bobby Unser passing eight (or so) cars under yellow on the warm-up lane to earn a controversial third Indy 500 win?  But, hey, “Mario [Andretti] passed three or four cars on the same lap, same turn, same place as me. The only difference was I passed eight or eleven or something like that. Besides, beating Mario was easy … I didn’t need to do that!” laughed Unser after he was finally awarded his win following a court proceeding in October of 1981.

1991 – The front row for the 75th running of the Indianapolis 500 was one for the ages. Rick Mears started from the pole for a record sixth time, and was joined by A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti. But in the end, it was another Andretti – Michael – who battled Mears in the closing laps before Rick made an historic pass going into Turn 1 to capture his fourth and final Indy 500 victory. Mears joined A. J. Foyt and Al Unser as the only four-time winners at the Speedway.

2001 – The racing world saw that Spiderman was just not a cartoon character on May 27, 2001, as Helio Castroneves – a Speedway rookie but Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) veteran – won  his first ‘500’, defeating teammate Gil de Ferran. Castroneves led a contingent of CART drivers who swept the top five spots at the height of the CART/IRL feud.  Helio is still racking up the wins and poles at IMS; he currently has three wins and four poles going into the 2011 event.  CART is no more, and the IRL is now thankfully known as IndyCar.

Now I ramble.

After 100 years of Indianapolis 500-mile races, only one driver has started first and finished first in Car Number One – 1923 – Tommy Milton.  Can’t happen this year – no Number One in the field …  In seven Indy 500 appearances, Dario Franchitti has started third four times, including in his last three starts.  Both his wins have come from the Number Three spot. If Dario qualifies third this year – well, you fill in the blank … Ray Harroun drove Car 32 to an Indy 500 win when he was 32 years old, and Dan Wheldon did the same in Car Number 26. Break out the driver line-up and check the birthdays for 2011 … Fifteen Indy 500 wins for Roger Penske.  35 consecutive Indy 500 starts for A.J. Foyt.  644 laps led at Indy by Al Unser … In 1972, Bobby Unser broke the previous track record in qualifying by more than 17 mph … Only four drivers have led in 10 or more Indy 500s: A.J. Foyt (13), Mario Andretti and Al Unser (11 each) and Bobby Unser (10) … Parnelli Jones appeared in seven ‘500s’ – never starting worse than sixth – and led 492 laps in five of his seven races. He sat on the pole twice and was the first driver to break 150 mph in 1962 … In 1977, Tom Sneva hit the wall in Turn 4 the day before he drove the same car to the first 200 mph lap at Indy  … Three Unsers and nine wins. That’s like one win for every ten Indy 500s.

Fantastic Indy 500 Program Cover

More thoughts.

The IMS program covers from 1955 to 1975 were really the best – and for sure, the best on which to collect autographs … The Lotus Ford that Jim Clark drove to victory in 1965 has to be one of the most beautiful cars to win the ‘500’, along with the 1928 Miller of Louis Meyer, the 1939/40 winning car of Wilbur Shaw, the 1947/48 winner of Mauri Rose, the 1951 winner of Lee Wallard,  Al Unser’s 1970 and 1971 Johnny Lightning Specials, and Bobby Unser’s powder-blue Jorgensen Eagle … Say what you will about the 1967 STP Turbine owned by Andy Granatelli and driven by Rufus Parnell Jones. It was memorable for a lot of reasons, and one of the most talked-about car/driver/owner/sponsor packages ever to race in the Indianapolis 500. The STP cars used to be true day-glo orange. They were so bright you could spot them a straightaway away, which is just what Granatelli wanted.  If you’ve seen them in person, you know what I mean … BRIGHT!  … You have to go back to 1975 to find the most recent year when the front row was made up of three different chassis and three different engine combinations. It was also the first time in the history of the Speedway that all three drivers (Foyt, Johncock and B. Unser) on the front row had previously won the ‘500’.

These will make you think.

Green folding chairs … Flags mounted on the back of the Official Pace Car … Tony Hulman giving the command for the final time in 1977 … Do you remember the first time you got an Indy 500 winner’s autograph, and how special it was? …  Pat Vidan and his crisp white blazer and black pants … The thrill of the Indianapolis Star arriving via mail in Whitehouse, Ohio – three  days after the fact, but still a GREAT read – and keeping every one of them in a stack year after year …  Waking up at 3:30 a.m. and loving it, whether in Ohio or Indiana … Walking by St. Elmo Steakhouse in the early 1990s and seeing Danny Sullivan dining with celebrities … Dining at ‘Mo’s, a Place for Steaks’ in the 2000s with Dario, Gil, Arie, Gordy, Kenny, Uncle Bobby, Al Jr., Johnny, Rufus, Mario and Jim …  Thanks for the ring, Scott …  Balloons … What’s your best memory of the first Indy 500 you saw in person, and do you have a special photo from that day?

Finally.

Always having an extra pair of dry socks, just in case … Jim Nabors making us all a little misty-eyed as we all sing along and for the most part know all 54 words!  … ABC Sports show openings in the 1990s, set to Delta Force music … And Bobby Unser always listening when Parnelli Jones speaks.