| BRINGING THE ESSENTIALS: Before deciding what | | | | well through it over your shoulder with everything |
| things or "stuff" you need to take with you to the | | | | else. |
| track, you need to know a couple of important facts. | | | | JACKET - Because it is nearly impossible to go back |
| First, the distance between your seat and your car is | | | | and get it once you get to your seat, its not a bad |
| likely to be a mile or two. This means you will have a | | | | idea to where a jacket suitable for a cool day, if the |
| long walk to and from your seat. Be sure you are | | | | forecast indicates there is a need for it. You can |
| able to carry or transport your "stuff" for a distance | | | | always take it off, but you can't put it on if you |
| of a mile or two. Also, be sure to take the "stuff" | | | | don't have it. |
| you deem essential, because you are not going to be | | | | COOLER - Most everyone brings their own food and |
| able to just get up and leave your seat and walk | | | | drinks to the track. This is the best way of ensuring |
| back to your car to get something your forgot to | | | | that you will have exactly what you want when you |
| take to begin with. | | | | want it. While the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is |
| The "stuff" you take to the track should include at a | | | | saturated with concession stands, they often run out |
| minimum the following essentials: | | | | of food and beer before the end of the day, |
| RAIN SUIT- If there is a chance of rain, be sure to | | | | particularly if there is a rain delay. So bringing your |
| carry an inexpensive plastic rain suit with you. It may | | | | own cooler is a great idea. Just be sure that it does |
| be the only cover you will have, if it begins to rain. | | | | not exceed 14" in height, width, or depth. The guards |
| Umbrellas are not a good idea. If you pull one out in | | | | will not allow you to enter the grandstands with a |
| the stands, you might succeed in keeping yourself | | | | cooler that exceeds those dimensions, because it |
| dry, but the rain that falls off the top will surely land | | | | won't fit beneath your feet between the bleachers. |
| on your neighbor and it is bound to make you very | | | | If your cooler does exceed those dimensions, you |
| unpopular. | | | | can leave it on the ground underneath the bleachers. |
| SUNSCREEN- Even on cloudy days, prolonged | | | | Then you can make supply runs between your seat |
| exposure to UV rays can cause you to suffer a | | | | to your cooler, when you need to restock. Don't |
| sunburn. Be sure to carry a small tube. | | | | pack glass in your bags or coolers. Your coolers and |
| EAR PLUGS - Many race fans don't find them | | | | bags will be searched when you enter the speedway |
| necessary, but if you are not accustomed to loud | | | | and you will not be allowed to bring in any glass |
| prolonged noise, you should consider packing a pair of | | | | containers. Stick with cans, they are they safe |
| inexpensive foam earplugs to dampen the noise. | | | | choice. |
| ALLERGY PROVISIONS - Race day is smack dab in | | | | ALCOHOL - If you expect to consume alcohol on |
| the center of pollen season. If you're not from these | | | | race day, please know your options. Alcohol sales on |
| parts, you might discover the high pollen count is | | | | Sunday are restricted to restaurants, pubs and |
| enough to overwhelm your immune system and | | | | trackside vendors. You cannot buy alcohol from a |
| cause you to suffer itchy eyes and a runny nose. | | | | liquor store, convenience store or grocery store on |
| Packing some tissues and a couple over the counter | | | | Sunday. Race day is on Sunday. Therefore, you need |
| allergy meds might save you from sudden | | | | to stock up the night before the race, unless you |
| unexpected misery. | | | | want to depend on the vendors to supply you all |
| RACE EDITION OF SUNDAY STAR - Unless you | | | | day. |
| have studied the field of cars in the field of 33, it is | | | | MAP OF INDIANAPOLIS - If you're not a native, get |
| unlikely you will know who's who when the race | | | | a map and keep it in your car. When leaving the |
| begins. The Indianapolis Star (Indy's local newspaper) | | | | speedway after the race, you may not be able to |
| publishes a special edition of the paper for race day. | | | | leave the same way you came in. If you are forced |
| It contains a score card and a photo line up of the | | | | to take an unfamiliar route out of the speedway, |
| field. From this photo line-up you will be able to tell | | | | having a map will come in handy and you will have |
| which car is being driven by Sarah Fisher and which | | | | plenty of time to study it while you're inching your |
| car is being driven by Scott Dixon. The race is a lot | | | | way through the heavily congested streets. |
| more fun when you know who's passing who. | | | | POST RACE ENTERTAINMENT PROVISIONS - While |
| BINOCULARS - While not exactly essential, bringing a | | | | there are ways and means of making a speedy exit |
| small pair of binoculars with you will enable you to | | | | from the speedway, it requires fast feet, a carefully |
| see a lot of things you wouldn't otherwise be able to | | | | executed parking plan, and a bit of luck. Therefore, |
| see. If you have the capacity to carry them, go | | | | you might want to resign yourself to the proposition |
| ahead and bring them. You won't regret it. | | | | that there is no reason to get in your car and leave |
| CAMERA - A camera is not essential. But, there is no | | | | right after the race. Many veteran race fans take the |
| better way to preserve your experience for | | | | whole thing in stride and plan for the inevitable. They |
| posterity than to record it in a photo. For that | | | | fire up the grill, get the football, Frisbee or lawn jarts |
| reason, bringing a small digital point-n-shoot or an | | | | out of the trunk, dip into the auxiliary supply of beer, |
| inexpensive disposable instamatic might be one of | | | | and enjoy themselves while others sit in traffic for |
| those items that will help you treasure your trip to | | | | hours. Just bring something to entertain yourself with |
| Indy for years to come. If you're a photo geek with | | | | for a couple hours after the race and you'll thank us |
| an expensive DSLR, nothing we would say here | | | | later. |
| would convince you not to bring it, so you might as | | | | |