Sunday brings us the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500, and with that, we flash back to our first ever podcast at the Indy 500. It's from 2019, and re-posting it up near the top now. If you want to talk about the drivers and the race itself, well then you are in the wrong place. This Indy 500 podcast is about the worst of the worst (so, actually the best) in people … [Read more...] about Indy 500 Podcast: The Best (Okay, Really the Worst) People Watching
Auto Racing
Guide to Indy 500 Museum; Photo of 1st ever Indy 500 car
With the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, we re-publish this post from March 2014, enjoy! I visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum just hours before Michigan State thrashed Michigan in the 2014 Big Ten Tournament Final. I used what scarce vacation time I had to take in Indy 500 history and Indy 500 culture. … [Read more...] about Guide to Indy 500 Museum; Photo of 1st ever Indy 500 car
Little 500, Broadripple: Indianapolis Race Weekend Hijinks
With the 75th running of the Little 500 coming up this Saturday night, we re-publish this classic piece from 2018. A decade ago, I attended my first Indy 500, sitting in the infield. I turned my people watching into an essay, which then became one of this site's most all-time popular posts. A decade later, I returned to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, but this time our … [Read more...] about Little 500, Broadripple: Indianapolis Race Weekend Hijinks
Indy 500 Takes Nationalism Up to Jingoism, and Beyond
With the 107th Indy 500 coming up on Sunday, we re-publish this piece from the 102nd running of the Indy 500. Enjoy! You know what patriotism is. You're familiar with nationalism. But you might not know what the term is for when patriotism and nationalism combine, get put on steroids and multiplied to the 10th power. That is a phenomenon known as jingoism. … [Read more...] about Indy 500 Takes Nationalism Up to Jingoism, and Beyond
Worst (or Best) of the Indianapolis 500 Infield People Watching
Editor's note: The following has been re-published every year since we first posted it, in 2008, during the run-up to the Indianapolis 500. Enjoy! The Indianapolis 500 is the world's highest attended single day event. Its total capacity is approximately 400,000 with about 125,000 located in the cheapest and most "festive" seats- the infield. … [Read more...] about Worst (or Best) of the Indianapolis 500 Infield People Watching
