2009 Indy 500

[chkltcow]

Lap one... Marco Andretti is out because the endplane broke off of his front wing.

Seriously? I mean... that's REALLY a reason to park a car on lap one? They don't build them modular, so they can REPLACE a part like that? That's a 5 second fix in F1, but it's a reason for retirement in IRL?

Sucks for Marco.... makes me wonder WTF Dallara is thinking with that "feature"

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[Indocti Discant]

YESS!! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!

yeh also i dont understand that retirement whatsoever.

[pete_falcone]

RHR out. How the hell was Foyt responsible for that one?

[Indocti Discant]

Originally Posted by chkltcow

That's a 5 second fix in F1, but it's a reason for retirement in IRL?

took 59 laps to fix!

[ptclaus98]

Jesus Christ, Donuts strikes again. When are they gonna start using the pitlane entry in T3?

[pete_falcone]

Dominick Torreto out. Dumb luck.

[chkltcow]

Is that a shamwow!? What's that giant thing they're going to use to clean up all that water?

Also, how is this the biggest race of the year? This is sort of boring, really

[StuBeck]

I fell asleep, woke up right after the end. Whoops.

[Rasmusson14]

Originally Posted by chkltcow

Also, how is this the biggest race of the year? This is sort of boring, really

I'd have to agree. There was no real excitement for me in the race today. Overtaking around an oval doesn't ever do it for me.

[ptclaus98]

Only because the Dallaras suck. As do spec engines. Hell, the Indy Lights race was awesome. I've never seen open wheelers push to the front, now I can mark that off.

[pio!pio!]

Shamwow!

[racerjon1]

Originally Posted by chkltcow

Also, how is this the biggest race of the year? This is sort of boring, really

This was my 25th 500.. and probably one of the more boring. I dont know what the deal was with grip and cars, but there was no real on track passing. The cars all had horrible aero push, and when they got close to the car in front they slid high. When they had worn tires (18-23 laps) and got close to a car in front, they slid up and then crashed. Rinse, lather, repeat.


Jon K

[racerjon1]

This was my 25th Indy 500 and I took 1,705 pictures over three days of varius stuff experienced during the weekend. A couple of these pictures are not work safe, but they are part of the Indy 500 experience so I have added them as links - don't click if you are at work or are offended by redneck chicks with saggy body parts.

so, uh.. off we go.


Friday: "Carb Day" Final practice, pit stop contest, Freedom 100 Indy Lights race - 1042 Total pics (847 pics with the 20d; 195 pics with the XT)


Sarah Fisher at speed during practice on Friday. There is a yellow mark on her right front tire, and you can see from the glossy surface on the edges she isn't up to speed and hasn't used all of the tire yet.


When the cars start on full fuel loads they bottom at a few points on the track, I caught Mike Conway here just after one of those moments.


The sun glares off all of the ways turn one shouldn't be taken while Justin Wilson takes the correct line.


Soon to be 3-time 500 winner Castroneves set the pace during the Thursday practice and would win the pit stop contest later that day.


John Andretti was back this year with another famous racing name - Petty. The sponsor isn't the same as it was in the old days, but seeing the Petty/STP colors was pretty cool.


AJ Foyt IV got a one-off ride at Indy and ended up driving to a 16th place finish.


Tony Kannan showered the track with sparks on Friday, and then with fire after he crashed on Sunday.


The Freedom 100 Indy Lights race - these guys are not on a pace lap but in race action. They look slow because they are 30 mph slower than the IndyCars, but are running 10-15mph faster than NASCAR Cup cars and are usually two and three abreast.


The picture is a bit blurry, but despite their "slow" speed you can see the SAFER barrier bend from the car hitting it.


The safety patrol - AKA, "Yellow Shirts" - at IMS can get worn out after a long day. The crowd was estimated at 70,000 on Friday and these guys (and girls) get to stand within the same few feet of space to offer directions, help if something goes wrong and blow wistles. Lots and lots of wistles.


More to come...

[racerjon1]

Saturday: Drivers Meeting, Parade (That I didn't attend) and then the street party the night before the race outside the track. - 160 Total pics. (140 with the 20d; 20 with the XT)

********WARNING NSFW LINK (naked chicks, and not ones worth getting fired for)***********
http://www.racerjon.com/pictures/eve...posed_5041.jpg
The night before the 500 becomes a mix of Mardi Gras and a state fair. Food, beer, and chicks wil low self esteem trading sights of skin for plastic beads. In the haze of alcohol, I think the guys don't realize that much of the time, they wouldn't look at most of these girls, but I guess that's the point.


One thing about this year is that the cops were a lot more aggressive. Shortly after I took the picture of the two girls exposing themselves, they got a long talking to. The guy in the picture above was arrested for public drunkeness, but as one cop said, "It's the closest thing I can find to being a bad parent." They were not enthused that he had a two-year-old out on the street with him.


I think these guys might have meant to be there in July for the Brickyard 400.


This guy was so drunk he couldn't even stand up on his own, and his legs were ready to give out on him as they walked him to the car.

******WARNING NSFW LINK (though.. for this board it isn't so bad she has some clothing on)*******
http://www.racerjon.com/pictures/eve...osed2_5078.jpg
Most girls lift their shirts to get exposure, the girl in this picture wore a bathing suit so skimpy and thin that it was hard to tell if it was lingerie or not.

***WARNING NSFW LINK*** (If girls kissing is not safe where you work anyway)
http://www.racerjon.com/pictures/eve..._kiss_5089.jpg
These girls found what might have been a better way to get attention - locking lips.


..and some not so nice girl on girl action. I don't know what started this one, but they were sorta pissed at each other.


People started pulling them apart...


...and then the cops finished the job. (I can't get over the smile on her face here as she lays with her hair in a puddle of beer)


This girl was screaming at the cops, and after looking at the pics I am not sure they got the right girl, she was behind watching, and I never saw the woman in red in cuffs.

When they picked her up, the smile went away and she started struggling. Meanwhile - tie-wraps for the girl on the ground.


More to come....

[racerjon1]

Sunday: Raceday - 503 Total pics. (313 With the 20d, 190 with the XT)


Race morning. With the evenings festivities all gone other than the trash and beer, for hours people walk down the road from where they parked to file into the track.


With international drivers comes an international flavor. More and more over the past few years people some in with painted faces and flag-themed accessories and clothing.


In the 60's and 70's STP logos would show up everywhere. I guess they are still shoing up, well... everywhere.


Usually the pre-race flyover will be ultra modern military aircraft. We have seen the Stealth bomber, Harriers, FA-18s, F16s... and this year. The thundering engines of a B25 shook the grandstands as it flew over.


The pace laps. Here the front row shortly before getting a waved-off start.


Hard racing was in short supply on Sunday because of the aero push most drivers were experiencing, and here was a tense 215mph moment for Justin Wilson (18), E.J. Viso (13) and Townsend Bell (8). Bell and Wilson were actually going around Viso here.


When Ryan Hunter-Reay crashed, this fan was very upset. He was upset to the point I wondered if it might have been a family member at first.


Back in the pack where the air was dirty and there was more traffic some passes got made. Here Hideki Mutoh (27) got a run on Davey Hamilton (44). Once the tires got worn out this type of close racing wasn't possible. Hamilton would crash later.


In the infield, people do what they can to get a clear shot of their favorite drivers.


I have given Milka Duno (23) crap for not being up to the task of driving an IndyCar, but she made a good move to miss the crashing Justin Wilson.


more to come...

[racerjon1]

Boom. That was the sound I heard as Vitor Meira (14) and Raphael Matos (2) touched entering turn one. The resulting crash was one of the stranger I had ever seen, with Meira riding on his side along the wall for nearly the full length of turn one.


I hate taking crash pictures.. but I am happy I was able to get these. (I took 26 shots during this sequence)


Before the cars had settled the Yellow-shirts each went down in front of the stands to do an injury check. This was quick and obviously drilled, and was cool to see the quick safety action of the IMS staff. One thing cool about this picture is that I have captured (inadvertantly) the reactions of the crowd about 20 seconds after the accident. The faces and expressions are fun to look at.

A full-size, uncropped version is here: http://www.racerjon.com/pictures/eve...-full_5378.jpg


Those close to me got to see my still shots right after the crash even.


Fans of Helio anticipating what might be..


After the crash, track workers walk the track picking up each and every piece of debris they can find.


Helio with his hand in the air after winning the 2009 Indy 500 - his third win in the event and especially special after his past six months.


Shiny happy people holding flags.


After the race some fans are lucky enough to go to the garage, and even get to get autographs. Milka Duno can often be seen outside of her garage with a Sharpie in hand.


The winning car getting pushed back into its garage, streaked with rubber. As soon as it stopped, crew went to work with rags, cleaner and wax to detail the car for the next day's photo shoots.



Jon K

[StuBeck]

Very cool pictures. I have an DSLR too and its sometimes difficult to get through all of the pictures, I've taken over 4GB's worth in a day sometimes.

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by racerjon1

People started pulling them apart...

More to come....

Guy on the right screams winner. Stay classy Indiana.

[chkltcow]

DAMN! Good eye Randy!

That's... uhh....