Indianapolis-based ads about the Indy 500 still claim that it’s heard around the world. However, while driving home from South Carolina on race day, we searched in vain to find a radio station carrying the “greatest spectacle in racing.” We searched satellite radio, FM, and AM stations, and the race was nowhere to be found. We didn’t learn the results until we stopped for the night, where there was a crawler across the bottom of the TV screen giving results, but there was no mention of the race on the sports news.
Apparently the old gal ain’t what she used to be.
I hadn't even heard the race was last weekend, let alone who one, if anyone. Throughout most of the world the Indy 500 is considered to be a very boring style of race, essentially only watched or cared about in America. It's certainly not considered a "world" event.
When I was a kid we used to listen to the race on RADIO and play wiffleball.
Keldon wrote:
I hadn't even heard the race was last weekend, let alone who one, if anyone. Throughout most of the world the Indy 500 is considered to be a very boring style of race, essentially only watched or cared about in America. It's certainly not considered a "world" event.
It is considered a world event because it attracts drivers from around the world. As far as not having heard it was last weekend, it's always on Memorial day Sunday.
I agree with the OP, the race is not the event it was prior to Tony George screwing things up. Today, with all the rules and specs being so restrictive and the cars being so similar, Indy Car is more like a glorified spec series, like NASCAR has become. I miss the days of run what you brung.
Testie
Loc: Armidale NSW Australia
We heard all about it here in oz. Might have been because Will Power is an Australian?
John N
Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
F1, Monaco, same weekend. Many would have watched that. I'm not getting drawn into whether one is better than the other.
John N
Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
Testie wrote:
Another Australian!
A good weekend for Aussie drivers! Just need Casey Stoner to return - but he seems to be sticking to his retirement plan.
Very true, it isn’t what it used to be. Seems to me the announcers get stuck on only a few drivers and that’s who they talk about continually. I think they need to mix it up.
I always thought the best part was Jim Neighbors singing "Back Home in Indiana."
RustyM wrote:
I always thought the best part was Jim Neighbors singing "Back Home in Indiana."
Jim Nabors. Just for the record.
Thank you. I knew better, my fingers just typed it that weigh.
As an employee of Firestone back in the 40's and 50's my dad attended the race most years. TV wasn't allowed so everyone listed on the radio: "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." There was a young color commentator who had memorized every fact about the history of the race. His contributions were fascinating. Offenhausers and flying rubber....it was edge-of-the-seat stuff back then. Today, it doesn't seem a lot different from other Indy Car races filled techno gadgets and bright colored cars.
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