The Official Blog of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

We’ve been getting all of our fans hyped on Twitter and Facebook for the Ben Spies tweet up for the past 2 weeks! Today was finally the day. The first 5 fans in line outside of the Oakley retail garage received a free pair of Oakley Batwolf sunglasses and Ben signed autographs for about 20 minutes for a line of fans that stretched from one row of garages to the other!

Fans were armed with sharpies, posters, framed pictures and helmets. We knew this would be the appropriate place to find our Fan of the Day, and who better than the first person in line? Jennifer had been waiting in line since noon (the tweet up was at 5pm). She didn’t even leave to eat lunch, she had family and friends deliver food to her.

Jennifer has followed Spies through pretty much his entire career. She has watched him race for about 10 years she said, and has even met his mother! She has attended the Red Bull Indianapolis GP every year at Indy and her favorite racing memory was the first time MotoGP came to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Ben finally arrived and the fans cheered for him as he took his seat outside of the Oakley garage. Jennifer was first to get an autograph. The line of fans took their turns getting autographs, shaking hands and wishing Ben good luck this weekend.

Jennifer got to walk away with a free pair of Oakley sunglasses, an autograph from her favorite driver and a great memory! What more could a fan ask for?

Sunday 4:30 PM – The 2011 Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records has come to a close – and the conclusion was an unforgettable one for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Paul Menard and his father John Menard. John Menard is no stranger to the IMS oval with his history in IndyCar racing. He has spent time and money on racing at this track and today his hard work paid off when he saw his son cross over the yard of bricks and win the Brickyard 400. A big congratulations goes out to Paul for his win today, and for this being his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win.

This weekend had something for everyone – and next year’s Brickyard will include even more excitement. So start counting down to the 2012 Super Weekend. 364 days to go…. – Cassie

Sunday 3:45 PM -  We’re 123 laps into the 160 lap Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records.  Brad Keselowski is currently in the lead as the cars circulate under caution after a small incident on the back stretch.  Jeff Burton, Juan Pabolo Montoya, Clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson round out the top 5. We stepped out of the nice cool media center to hit the beach… The Brickyard Beach Bash that is.

If you’re looking for a place to cool off the Beach Bash is the spot.  There’s pools, cool zones, beach volleyball, a bar, and the best part… LIVE MUSIC.  There’s been a DJ running all morning with dance competitions and as we speak Iyaz is on stage performing for the crowd.  If you’ve been to the Snake Pit before this is our NASCAR version of the famed turn 3 party.  Believe me when I say, it’s a sight to be seen! -Brian

Sunday 1:45 PM – The 2011 Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records is off and running.  Kasey Kahne is currently out and front and looking strong (obviously, he’s my pick).   Gordon, Ragan, Kenseth, and Allmendinger round out the top 5.  It’s a beautiful day, hot, and perfect for racing.  It should be a great race as the heat will have the cars slipping and sliding all over the place.  Who’s your early pick for victory?  What about leader at half distance? – Brian

Sunday 12:30 PM - Emily and I were lucky enough to spend the morning backstage at the Big Machine Records performances. We were up close and personal with Thomas Rhett, The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, and Justin Moore. It was an unforgettable experience! The fans loved every minute of the concerts and we got to capture some great pictures that you can find in our Flickr photostream. As soon as Justin Moore concluded the concerts on the Brickfest stage, Rascal Flatts began to rock out on the front straight. Fans who had pre-race pit passes got an awesome 3 song set from Rascal Flatts.

We’re now awaiting Reba McEntire’s performance. The stands are filling up and the waving of the green flag will happen before we know it!

Sunday 11:28 AM – Cars are lined up on pit row. Tires are laid out. The pit stalls are ready. The green flag is inching closer. Who is your pick to kiss the bricks today? We want to know. – Daniel

Sunday 9:28 AM – NASCAR is hosting a tweetup at 10am on the Turn 2 side of the Hall of Fame museum. We’re headed that way. So is Big Machine Records. How about you Tweeps? – Daniel

Sunday 8:20 AM – It’s starting to heat up – and there’s more hustle and bustle. Fans are rolling in and the teams are starting to fill pit lane. Big Machine Records and their star studded line up of Rascal Flatts, Reba, The Band Perry and more, will get started at 9am. Cassie and Emily will be on hand to send out tweets, grab pics and report back later in the blog. In the meantime, put on some sunscreen and head this way. It’s going to be a great day of racing and music. – Daniel

Sunday 6:05 AM – It’s 6 AM and the 2011 Brickyard 400 is off with a bang, literally. Just a few hours until some of the biggest names in country music take the stage at IMS. Big Machine Records has provided a fantastic line up including The Band Perry, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, and the legendary Reba McEntire.

A salute to US troops and the Brickyard Beach Bash are other great activities planned for today. The green flag will be waved at 1 PM and one lucky driver will be given the opportunity to kiss the bricks. We’ll be blogging through all the action, so be sure to keep checking back! – Cassie

Saturday 6:15 PM - The 1st annual Brickfest was a hit – autograph sessions, an exciting round of qualifications, and a great concert by Hinder made the day quite a success. We headed out into the crowd of singing, dancing Hinder fans and searched for our Fan of the Day.

Alissa was decked out in Jimmie Johnson gear with her husband by her side dressed in Dale Jr gear and their son head to toe in Jeff Gordon attire. Alissa told us she waited in line for about an hour to get her wristband to get Jimmie’s autograph at the largest Sprint Cup autograph session of 2011. It seemed to be well worth the wait! She said the autograph session was what she was most looking forward to because she had never gotten an autograph. Alissa and her husband have attended the Brickyard 400 every year since 1998 and plan to attend next year’s Super Weekend.

Tickets go on sale for the 2012 Super Weekend on Monday, be sure to get yours as well!

Saturday 5:45 PM – Qualifying has ended and the driver wheeling the car with the paint scheme commemorating our Grand Marshal, Ned Jarrett, is on pole.  David Ragan set the fastest lap in qualifying with a lap speed of 182.994.  My choice for pole position, Kasey Kahne was just behind him in second place.

Here’s the top 10 after qualifying:

1.) David Ragan

2.) Kasey Kahne

3.) Jimmie Johnson

4.) Kurt Busch

5.) Brad Keselowski

6.) AJ Allmendinger

7.) Juan Pablo Montoya

8.) Jeff Gordon

9.) Matt Kenseth

10.) Carl Edwards

We’re off to the Hinder concert! – Brian

Saturday 3:25 PM – We caught up with Hope Solo and showed her around pit lane and Gasoline Alley. She got to rub elbows with lots of NASCAR and soccer fans, as well as meet Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon, 2nd place finisher JR Hildebrand, and NASCAR driver David Ragan. Hope talked about how excited she is to drive the pace car, driving over 100mph around IMS, being at such an amazing facility and how overwhelmingly friendly everyone has been. She’s still walking around soaking in all the excitement. – Daniel

Saturday 2:00 PM – We stepped out just a few minutes ago to check out the MASSIVE autograph session taking place in the chalet’s behind the pagoda.  Today’s autograph session is actually the largest session in the NASCAR Sprint Cup this season.  Drivers like Trevor Bayne, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon were all present for the second half of today’s two part autograph session.

After strolling through the session it was pretty obvious why fans were sprinting through the gates this morning to get in line for the wristband distribution.  It’s not too often to get to experience these drivers in a face to face atmosphere, especially this many!  It certainly was a rare experience and I’m sure many fans won’t forget anytime soon. – B

Saturday 11:30 AM – The practice session has concluded, and we took the time to check out the view from Club 94. Club 94 is ticket holders that have had tickets since the innagural Brickyard 400 – in 1994. Club 94 is located on the front straight, so it’s pretty much front row seats to all the NASCAR action all weekend long. Not to mention the food and shade from this crazy July heat. – Cassie

Saturday 10:06 AM – Practice is underway at the Brickyard. In other news, US Women’s National Soccer Team Goalie, Hope Solo will be driving tomorrow’s 2011 Chevrolet Corvette. We already know she has good reflexes. – Daniel

Saturday 9:14 AM – Another good morning. We’re ready for a massive day at the Brickyard for Brickfest. Autograph Sessions. NASCAR Qualifying. Club 94. Kids Club activities. An open Hall of Fame Museum. Hinder in concert. And it’s only Saturday. It’s also going to be a hot one – so stay hydrated and well fed. Speaking of which, Cassie and I started our day off with a breakfast sandwich. It’s no breakfast burrito, but it got the job done. What are you eating today? Daniel

Saturday 6:45 AM – Good morning!  It’s a bit damp here this morning after the late night showers we had here in Indy but the trucks are already out on the track doing laps in order to dry the track.  Today’s a big day, it’s the 1st Annual Brickfest!  We’re all looking forward to all the live music, autograph sessions, and obviously on-track activity.

There’s been quite a bit of debate here in the media center as to who will take the pole for the Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records but I’m going to go with Kasey Kahne.  It’d be a big story if the week after his spectacular shunt in a World of Outlaws car he took the pole.

Who do you think will be sitting on top of the timing charts this afternoon? -Brian

Friday 5:55 PM - It’s the end of the day and we’re glad the weather held out. Tomorrow’s a big day – autograph session, qualifying with lots of track time and the Hinder concert. The Daily Trackside Report is available now, if you want a good dose of track facts and quotes. And below, we’ve got a slideshow of over 200 images from the Brickyard 400 so far. Have a great night. See you tomorrow? – Daniel

Friday 5:33 PM – It was another hot day, but it seemed much more bearable than yesterday. As practice ended, fans gathered around Gasoline Alley and Thunder Alley to cheer and jeer their favorite teams and drivers. It made me realize how loyal NASCAR fans are. Who’s your favorite driver? – Daniel

Friday 5:00 PM – The final practice session has ended concluding track activity for the day (other than the Richard Petty Driving Experience).  This session had a bit more activity as one of the cars had an engine let go.  After a yellow flag to clean up the track, we were back to green flag conditions and the practice ended with no other events.

The final top 10 ended up like this:

1.) Greg Biffle

2.) Martin Truex Jr

3.) Jimmie Johnson

4.) Casey Mears

5.) Kevin Harvick

6.) Carl Edwards

7.) Joey Logano

8.) David Reutimann

9.) Jeff Burton

10.) Brian Vickers

Tomorrow’s a big day here at IMS.  We’ve got live music all day (including Hinder!), the NASCAR Sprint Cup largest autograph session, Q&A sessions, and of course qualifying. We’ll also have an exclusive behind-the-scenes sneak peak from inside the IMS Hall of Fame museum.

We’ll be here through it all, make sure you follow along. – Brian

Friday 3:45 PM – After the first practice session concluded we headed out towards Turn 3 for the vintage car show that will be going on all weekend, and it was impressive! If you’re coming to the track this weekend, make sure to head over and check it out.

Then it was time to find the Fan of the Day! True fans hang out by the garages and that’s exactly where we found Derek. He was wearing his Jeff Gordon hat, and surrounded by his family of Tony Stewart fans. I asked him why his favorite driver is Jeff Gordon and his little sister answered for him – “because he isn’t our favorite” meaning herself and their parents. This is Derek’s 3rd year in a row at the Brickyard 400 and he can’t wait to see Jeff Gordon win this weekend!

Practice session #2 is almost over and at 5 the Richard Petty Driving Experience is taking over the IMS oval. Keep checking back to stay up-to-date on all of the Brickyard happenings. – Cassie

Friday 2:15 PM – The first practice for the 2011 Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records has just concluded.  No major event to speak of as it was a caution free session.  Matt Kenseth was the fastest of the session… followed by Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, David Ragan, Kurt Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, and Jeff Burton.

The next session starts at 3:15 PM ET.  We’re heading out to go find our next Fan of the Day.  So if you see us drive by be sure to scream and shout, we just might pick you! -Brian

Friday 11:30 AM – About an hour and a half ago, the 2011 Brickyard 400 pace car was unveiled. Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, and Jamie McMurray had the honor of taking the cover off of the Chevrolet Corvette. This is the 18th year in a row a Chevy has been featured as the Brickyard 400 pace car, in other words, a Chevy has always paced the Brickyard 400.

The driver of this year’s pace car is Hope Solo, the goalie of the US women’s soccer team. Racing, soccer, music, autographs – what more could you ask for in one weekend?- Cassie

Friday 11:00 AM – I was lucky enough to climb onboard one of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro pace cars and go for a spin around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Any fan who was at IMS today and took a Chevrolet test-drive in the Chevy Experience area was granted a hot lap in a Camaro or Corvette.  There aren’t very many feelings in this world like coming off turn 4 at IMS and heading down the front straight.

In the early morning the front stretch is similar to a long dark tunnel with the light at the end being turn 1.  Roaring past the Pagoda at over 120 mph is an experience every diehard race fan should have. -Brian

Friday 8:45 AM - Good morning!  The track is officially open and the 2011 Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records has begun.  It’s Chevy Day and tons of exciting event are planned for today. People were seen sprinting through the gates this morning in order to get in line for the autograph session wristband give away.  Vintage cars are rolling through the gates and concession stands are providing the fans with coffee and breakfast sandwiches.

There are TONS of things going on here today.  There’s a vintage car show running the entirety of the day, autograph sessions, pace car rides and, of course, Sprint Cup practice.  We’ll also have some exclusive behind-the-scenes photos coming from an event at the IMS Hall of Fame Museum.  Stay tuned all day! -Brian

9:00 PM- The Hauler Parade was the perfect way to kick off Brickyard 400 weekend! The event was definitely successful, but we can’t say the same about our pit stop competition team. We lost first round, but it was a great time! NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Ned Jarrett & David Ragan arrived and answered questions from fans to make the evening even more exciting.

We headed home early to rest up for another day of NASCAR action tomorrow, but the Hauler Parade will continue until around 11 PM. So if you haven’t yet, head to Main Street for some great Thursday night entertainment! – Cassie

6:10 PM - Not gonna lie. It’s a hot one, but there are tons of fans on Main Street. And now they are joined by tons of NASCAR Haulers. The band is still playing and there a lots of refreshments, so it’s worth it. Up next? The pit stop challenge! Daniel

5:10 PM - Headed to the Hauler Parade! We’re competing in the pit stop competition and everything! Head to Main St and join in on the fun and check back here later for full Hauler Parade details! -Cassie

3:40 PM - It’s hot here today and when I say hot, I mean that kind of hot where it feels like your eyes are sweating.  Disregarding the heat, my colleague Cassie and I ventured out of the media center here at IMS with the goal of finding our first 2011 Brickyard 400 Fan of the Day.  The grounds are mostly filled with workers diligently building stages, kiosks, and fan entertainment zones but we stumbled across this IMS first-timer at the Hall of Fame Museum.

Tony is from Manchester, England and this weekend is his first visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  A self-confessed Formula 1 fan, Tony is pulling for his namesake in the 2011 Brickyard 400, Tony Stewart.  His favorite racing moment was Lewis Hamilton’s first win in Formula 1, obviously a big moment for all natives of England.  When asked which event he’d be most excited to see in 2012 at the newly announced Super Weekend, Tony was eager to return for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

We’ll be looking for fans of the day all weekend.  So keep your eyes peeled for Cassie, myself and our camera! -Brian

12:45 PM - 2012 is already looking very different with a new Super Weekend at The Brickyard. Today the IMS announced that Crown Royal will become the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday, July 29, 2012 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The announcement was even followed by a whisky tasting. So we’re off to a great start to this weekend – Daniel.

10:45 AM – The 2011 Brickyard 400 has arrived and IMS is making final preparations. We’re all set up in the media center and awaiting the exciting activities! We’ll be covering everything from crazy fans to food being made in the drivers’ garages. At about 11:30 AM today, a HUGE announcement regarding next year’s Brickyard 400 will take place! We’ll be covering it, so check back later to get full details.

If you’re sitting at home wishing you could be here then open this link: Brickyard Tickets and purchase your weekend tickets! Concerts, autograph sessions and great NASCAR racing will be lighting up the Speedway, you don’t want to miss out! Follow us on  Twitter (@IMS) and “like” our Facebook page to stay up-to-date all weekend as well! – Cassie

To end this series of Fan of the Day we caught a few special people to take pictures with the giant Cholula Hot Sauce bottle. KV Racing Technology driver Tony Kanaan and Indy 500 Festival Princess Riley Hoffman took a few minutes to pose with the Cholula Fan of the Day bottle. It was great of them to show their support for IMS and of course Cholula Hot Sauce.

This May has been a great one thanks to all of the fans. It was great to search for a Fan of the Day and we were never disappointed with the way fans showed their support. Whether it was wearing their favorite driver’s shirt, being an avid autograph hunter, or just pouring Cholula Hot Sauce on everything the fans made this 100th Anniversary even more special to IMS.

We have to send a special shout out to Cholula Hot Sauce as well. They provided every Fan of the Day with an awesome prize pack and, thanks to Cholula Hot Sauce at every concession stand, they provided happy bellies to many hungry fans at this year’s Indy 500.

Congratulations to all of our chosen fans for Fan of the Day and keep looking for more Fan of the Day posts and opportunities when the Brickyard 400 rolls around in July!

To check out more Fan of the Day pictures check out Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Flickr.

By now, fans have caught the Indy 500 Fan of the Day Presented by Cholula Hot Sauce. You’ve probably seen our Facebook photos and said to yourself “Really, that’s the fan of the day? I could do better, I should be the Fan of the Day! I should win that 2 ft. tall Cholula Hot Sauce bottle.”

Okay, perhaps not verbatim, but it’s human nature to see a contest winner and wonder why you did not win as well. But then came Miller Lite Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and our team was simply dumbstruck by the AMAZING displays of Indy 500 fandom (well now I’m just inventing words…)

In short, it was crazy – fans packed the place to catch the Firestone Freedom 100 and a concert with Staind and Papa Roach and we could not walk anywhere with that 2 ft. tall bottle without fans pointing and saying “I gotta have that.”

So enjoy the photos below, everyone in attendance yesterday deserved some credit towards Fan of the Day. Now if only we could give everyone 2 ft tall Cholula Hot Sauce bottles….

Yes, the Indy 500 Fan of the Day program is back and we’re ready to find the best fans Indianapolis Motor Speedway has to offer! This year, Cholula Hot Sauce became a sponsor of Fan of the Day and will award prizes to the lucky fan chosen each day.

We’ve seen how fun, crazy, and excited you fans can be and we’re asking you to bring all those qualities to the Speedway for the rest of May. Winners will receive a 4-pack of sauces, a t-shirt, and a 2ft. tall trophy bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce. Their picture will also be featured on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website and Cholula’s Facebook page. Love hot sauce? Head on over to their Facebook page and let them know you caught the Fan of the Day!

Firestone Indy Lights practice and qualifying were almost completely washed out yesterday. Fans hung around hoping to see more track action that never happened. Despite the rain, oue next fan of the day seemed to be having a great time with her friends and had her Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial Era sweatshirt on. Meet our new fan of the day, Jenny!

How many times have you attended the Indy 500?

Jenny was in Indy for a business conference and was given tickets for the Indy 500 this year. This will be her first time attending the race, and she is loving every minute of being at IMS.

Which 100^th anniversary event are you most looking forward to?

Jenny is super excited for Carb Day and the concerts that will be taking place on the Miller Lite stage.

What is one thing that always brings you back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

This is Jenny’s first time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but she has learned to love the access to the garages and the pits. She got to meet drivers and get pictures with some of them.

Which current driver would you like to see win this year’s Indy 500?

Jenny and her friends met Paul Tracy yesterday. “He was such a nice guy,” said Jenny.  They got their picture taken with PT and would love to see him win this year.

What is your favorite racing memory?

Jenny has never been to an IndyCar race, but she has great memories from her home in Minnesota. They used to hold snowmobile races every year that took place on racetracks made of hay. Jenny loved attending the race every year.

In your opinion, which food is best with Cholula Hot Sauce?

Tacos

Yes, the Indy 500 Fan of the Day program is back and we’re ready to find the best fans Indianapolis Motor Speedway has to offer! This year, Cholula Hot Sauce became a sponsor of Fan of the Day and will award prizes to the lucky fan chosen each day.

We’ve seen how fun, crazy, and excited you fans can be and we’re asking you to bring all those qualities to the Speedway for the rest of May. Winners will receive a 4-pack of sauces, a t-shirt, and a 2ft. tall trophy bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce. Their picture will also be featured on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website and Cholula’s Facebook page. Love hot sauce? Head on over to their Facebook page and let them know you caught the Fan of the Day!

Community Day was underway, and so were the afternoon’s autograph sessions. Fans had spent their morning lining up to receive bracelets that would get them into the autograph sessions later that day. Joined by Grace, one of few children across the nation chosen as Scholastic Kid Reporters, I made my way through the line of fans waiting for autographs. We knew this had to be the best spot to find a true Indy 500 fan. Our eyes scanned the line of eager fans when we spotted someone wearing a hat completely filled with collectible pins. We knew Terry would be a great fan of the day. It wasn’t until later that we realized Terry had also been fan of the day last year. Guess it takes a dedicated and true fan to be chosen two years in a row!

How many times have you attended the Indy 500?

Terry first attended the Indy 500 in 1972. This year will make the 37^th time he has attended the race. Impressive!

Which 100^th anniversary event are you most looking forward to?

Terry is looking forward to the running of the Indy 500 this year to celebrate the 100^th anniversary.

What is one thing that always brings you back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

The people and the races that IMS hosts always bring Terry back.

Which current driver would you like to see win this year’s Indy 500?

Marco Andretti was Terry’s answer because he always seems to have a tough time at Indy.

If you could choose any driver from the past to win this year’s Indy 500 who would it be?

A.J. Foyt because he has always been Terry’s favorite driver.

What is your favorite racing memory?

One of Terry’s favorite Indy 500 memories was the 1985 race when Danny Sullivan won.

In your opinion, which food is best with Cholula Hot Sauce?

Terry loves eating corn dogs with Cholula Hot Sauce.

Yes, the Indy 500 Fan of the Day program is back and we’re ready to find the best fans Indianapolis Motor Speedway has to offer! This year, Cholula Hot Sauce became a sponsor of Fan of the Day and will award prizes to the lucky fan chosen each day.

We’ve seen how fun, crazy, and excited you fans can be and we’re asking you to bring all those qualities to the Speedway for the rest of May. Winners will receive a 4-pack of sauces, a t-shirt, and a 2ft. tall trophy bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce. Their picture will also be featured on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website and Cholula’s Facebook page. Love hot sauce? Head on over to their Facebook page and let them know you caught the Fan of the Day!

Rain repeatedly interrupted Bump Day, but the fans didn’t seem to mind. The crowd lined Gasoline Alley, pit lane, and filled the stands. The sky was numerous colors throughout the day and so was the outfit the next fan of the day was wearing. His orange and green shirt and mardi gra beads caught my eye underneath the entrance to Gasoline Alley. Jimmy Nitro was the new Fan of the Day.

How many times have you attended the Indy 500?

Jimmy has lived in Indy for 15 years and has attended the race every single one of those years plus the two years before he moved to Indy. So, Jimmy has been to the Indy 500 17 times in a row, very impressive.

Which 100^th anniversary event are you most looking forward to?

As a child Jimmy owned the Hot Wheels car on display in the plaza this May. Jimmy obviously has a love for Hot Wheels which explains why he is most looking forward to the Hot Wheels stunt taking place on race day morning. Jimmy says he plans on being in Turn 4 with his family to see the stunt happen.

What makes the 100^th anniversary special to you?

Seeing all the “racing celebrities” and past drivers around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, especially Bobby Rahal, makes the 100^th anniversary special to Jimmy.

What is one thing that always brings you back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

The sounds and smells of IMS always bring Jimmy back. He loves the sound of the cars passing over the yard of bricks. “It makes a unique noise,” said Jimmy.

Which current driver would you like to see win this year’s Indy 500?

Jimmy would love to see Alex Tagliani win this year’s Indy 500. He had the honor of talking to Tagliani and shaking his hand. Jimmy thinks Alex Tagliani and the Sam Schmidt Racing team have a car that has what it takes to win this year’s race.

If you could choose any driver from the past to win this year’s Indy 500 who would it be?

Buddy Rice.

What is your favorite racing memory?

Three years ago Jimmy attended the race with his brother-in-law and they were watching from Turn 4. His brother-in-law had painted an image of the American flag on his back. At some point during the day, a crowd of troops passed by them and sent out a special yell to Jimmy’s brother-in-law. Jimmy said the whole situation brought tears to his eyes. The incident ended up being in the Indianapolis Star a few days later.

In your opinion, which food is best with Cholula Hot Sauce?

Nachos with bacon, and tons of Cholula Hot Sauce.

Yes, the Indy 500 Fan of the Day program is back and we’re ready to find the best fans Indianapolis Motor Speedway has to offer! This year, Cholula Hot Sauce became a sponsor of Fan of the Day and will award prizes to the lucky fan chosen each day.

We’ve seen how fun, crazy, and excited you fans can be and we’re asking you to bring all those qualities to the Speedway for the rest of May. Winners will receive a 4-pack of sauces, a t-shirt, and a 2ft. tall trophy bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce. Their picture will also be featured on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website and Cholula’s Facebook page. Love hot sauce? Head on over to their Facebook page and let them know you caught the Fan of the Day!

Pole Day was underway and fans eagerly awaited drivers as they walked off the track following their individual qualification attempts. I knew the bull pen would be my place to find a true fan. Wearing a Tony Kanaan jersey and standing in the front row was Caleb. A new fan of the day had been discovered.

How many times have you attended the Indy 500?

Caleb has attended four Indy 500 races. His first was in 2007 or 2008.

Which 100^th anniversary event are you most looking forward to?

Caleb is looking forward to the pit stop challenge and always looks forward to Pole Day.

What makes the 100^th anniversary special to you?

Being in the atmosphere created by IMS and the Indy 500 is what makes the 100^th anniversary special to Caleb. He loves the fans and being a part of a great crowd.

What is one thing that always brings you back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

The cars and the speed of the famous IMS oval brings Caleb back every year. He loves the month of May and everything that goes on. “May is just awesome,” Caleb said.

Which current driver would you like to see win this year’s Indy 500?

If Tony Kanaan won this year’s race Caleb would be happy. “He always has a tough time at Indy,” said Caleb.

If you could choose any driver from the past to win this year’s Indy 500 who would it be?

Rick Mears. “Because he’s the greatest,” Caleb explained.

What is your favorite racing memory?

Last year when Tony Kanaan wrecked both cars and still ended up in the race.

In your opinion, which food is best with Cholula Hot Sauce?

Tacos

Yes, the Indy 500 Fan of the Day program is back and we’re ready to find the best fans Indianapolis Motor Speedway has to offer! This year, Cholula Hot Sauce became a sponsor of Fan of the Day and will award prizes to the lucky fan chosen each day.

We’ve seen how fun, crazy, and excited you fans can be and we’re asking you to bring all those qualities to the Speedway for the rest of May. Winners will receive a 4-pack of sauces, a t-shirt, and a 2ft. tall trophy bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce. Their picture will also be featured on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website and Cholula’s Facebook page. Love hot sauce? Head on over to their Facebook page and let them know you caught the Fan of the Day!

It was a packed day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and plenty of fans cheered on the drivers during practice. Autographs were being signed every time I turned around. Fans swarmed the garage area keeping an eye on Simona de Silvestro’s garage and I was searching carefully for the next fan of the day. A fan wearing two hats with his hands full of autographed paraphernalia caught my eye. He seemed to be busy walking from garage to garage, but I had to interrupt his process because Josh was the definitely the next fan of the day.

How many times have you attended the Indy 500?

Josh has attended the race a couple times, but he always returns for Fast Friday and Pole Day. When it comes to attending IMS events, you can usually find Josh around Brickyard 400 time.

Which 100^th anniversary event are you most looking forward to?

Next Saturday (A.J. Foyt Day) an autograph session featuring hundreds of past drivers is taking place and Josh can’t wait to add to his autograph collection.

What makes the 100^th anniversary special to you?

Just being able to hang around the garage area and collect autographs adds to Josh’s 100^th anniversary experience. Last year he managed to get 50 autographs on one hat and all in one day. He’s working towards the same thing this year.

What is one thing that always brings you back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Coming back every year for the Indy 500 is all about the fan involvement for Josh. He loves that fans have more access to the garage area and Gasoline Alley than the Brickyard 400.

Which current driver would you like to see win this year’s Indy 500?

Josh would love to see Paul Tracy or Will Power win this year. On the other hand, he thinks it would also be cool to see Helio win a fourth Indy 500.

If you could choose any driver from the past to win this year’s Indy 500 who would it be?

Johnny Rutherford. “He’s a legend,” said Josh.

What is your favorite racing memory?

Every race is a great memory for Josh. He couldn’t choose just one memory that was the best. He is a fan of all kinds of racing and enjoys seeing any and all races.

In your opinion, which food is best with Cholula Hot Sauce?

“Probably tacos,” said Josh.

Yes, the Indy 500 Fan of the Day program is back and we’re ready to find the best fans Indianapolis Motor Speedway has to offer! This year, Cholula Hot Sauce became a sponsor of Fan of the Day and will award prizes to the lucky fan chosen each day.

We’ve seen how fun, crazy, and excited you fans can be and we’re asking you to bring all those qualities to the Speedway for the rest of May. Winners will receive a 4-pack of sauces, a t-shirt, and a 2ft. tall trophy bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce. Their picture will also be featured on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website and Cholula’s Facebook page. Love hot sauce? Head on over to their Facebook page and let them know you caught the Fan of the Day!

The sun has finally decided to shine on IMS once again and the stands have been packed with fans waiting to watch practice. However, it wasn’t the stands where I found our next fan of the day, it was Gasoline Alley. I was walking through the garages when everything came to a halt because the A.J. Foyt Enterprises team with Vitor Meira’s car was pulling back into Gasoline Alley. Numerous fans had stopped to let the team through when I spotted our fan of the day. He was sporting his Tony Kanaan shirt and held a helmet covered in autographs. Chad was pleased to be our fan of the day and his friends joined in on some of the answers as well.

How many times have you attended the Indy 500?

Chad has been to the actual Indy 500 race about five times. His first race was when he was a kid, probably around eight years old.

Which 100^th anniversary event are you most looking forward to?

The race itself.

What makes the 100^th anniversary special to you?

Chad is enjoying all the centennial activities this year. He has loved seeing all the old drivers around. It makes the 100^th anniversary more special to Chad.

What is one thing that always brings you back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

The treatment of the fans is why Chad always finds himself at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year. He loves that fans can have access to the garage area and Gasoline Alley and can be up close and personal with the drivers.

Which current driver would you like to see win this year’s Indy 500?

Chad would love to see Tony Kanaan win this year’s 100^th anniversary race. He loves TK because of the way he treats his fans. “He’s always very courteous,” said Chad.

If you could choose any driver from the past to win this year’s Indy 500 who would it be?

Chad’s friends answered right away with “J.R., J.R.”. “Yea, it would definitely have to be Johnny Rutherford,” Chad said.

What is your favorite racing memory?

Every time Chad has been in the garage area at Indy with his brother just walking around getting autographs and watching the drivers and teams do their thing has been his favorite racing memory.

In your opinion, which food is best with Cholula Hot Sauce?

“What can’t you eat with Cholula?” Chad and his friends are definite Cholula fans. They said they always use the Cholula at the Indy concession stands on their hot dogs or whatever they order that day.