Indianapolis is My Home

28
May

Celebrities at the Indy 500

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Celebrities, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500, Speedway

I attended my first Indianapolis 500 this past weekend and had a great time. I have friends that come in from Vegas every year, they usually come for the F1, but since it’s not running they decided to continue the tradition and just switch it to the Indianapolis 500.

We had a blast. Had some good seats and got to see some celebrities. I’ll have to admit though, I didn’t know a lot of them, here are two that we had to ask who they were.

Whitney Thompson - Winner of "America’s Next Top Model"

Drew Lachey - from 98 Degrees and "Dancing with the Stars"

More pictures of other famous people that were at the race to come!

18
May

Get a Golf Deal at Brickyard Crossing

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Indianapolis Golf, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Outdoor Recreation, Speedway, Things To Do in Indy

It’s May and it’s time to be at the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. If you didn’t know it though, there’s more to the Speedway than just cars, engines and tires… you can also play some great golf at the Brickyard Crossing golf course.

Now you can take advantage of getting a great rate by playing the course on their Twilight rate special.

For only $55 after 4pm, play one of the most unique golf courses in the world, including four holes inside the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Whether you’re golfing for business or pleasure, you can take advantage of the extended daylight hours and play one of America’s top public golf courses. Tee times up to 30 days in advance at brickyardcrossing.com or call 317-492-6572.

For more details, you can visit or call the Brickyard Golf Course at the following:

Brickyard Crossing Golf Course
4400 West 16th Street
Indianapolis Indiana 46222
317-492-6572
www.brickyardcrossing.com

15
May

Jon McLaughlin Performing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway This Weekend

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Concerts, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500, Local Musicians, Things To Do in Indy

One of the musicians and artists I’ve been enjoying lately, since purchasing his album, is Jon McLaughlin. I just read that he’ll be performing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend at 3pm. Tickets at the gate are $10.

Click here for a list of other events on the schedule at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Jon is a great singer and does some great piano playing. You can see his talent by clicking on the link below for him performing "Industry" from his latest album "Indiana".

An Anderson, IN native and Anderson School of Music graduate, I think he’s definitely someone we can be proud of by calling Indiana home.

YouTube Video of Jon performing "Industry"

14
May

What Indy Car Drivers Drive Off the Track

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500, Northwest Side

We were just in a local tire shop having some work done and picking up the car. Before I even pulled into the lot I noticed this car in the parking space (handicapped at that).

We found it it belongs to an Indy Car driver, but he doesn’t have his pit crew work on his personal car so he brings it in here to get work done on it. There were a stack of racing slicks next to the car just to the left out of the photo.

I’m not sure who it belongs to, but the car had California plates on it. I wonder if he gets to open this sucker up on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track sometimes?

In case the photo I took above isn’t clear enough (I took it with my phone), here’s what the car looks like from Edmunds.

Yeah! Very nice! Would love to drive that around at least once in my life.

07
Dec

Indianapolis Gets Another Marathon in May

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Downtown, Indianapolis History, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, News, Outdoor Recreation, Special Events, Speedway, Things To Do in Indy

Indianapolis gets another event that I won’t be participating in anytime soon. An article in the IBJ says that organizers of a new mini-marathon for the city are adding it to the calendar because of the existing mini-marathon already being sold-out at 35,000 spectators.

I’ve got a number of friends that have run in the marathon and are hard-core runners I guess. I’m sure they’ll be extremely happy.

I believe this is a good move for the city. There should be more events that encourage physical exercise. I personally wish there were more cycling events in the city and opportunities to do them.

Of course there’s still the challenge of me getting my butt off the seat and actually going out and doing it. When I was in college and single, I’d bike about 80 miles a week. During my short stint working at Lowe’s on the south side I’d bike the 4 miles to work every day.

Good times. Good times.

Photo Source: The Auto Channel

04
Dec

"Speed Zone" Development Moving Forward

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Brickyard 400, Business, Business Entrepreneurs, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500, Indy MotoGP, News, Real Estate, Speedway, Sports, US Grand Prix - F1

An article today in the IBJ confirmed that local real-estate developer Mansur Real Estate Services, Inc. has been chosen to lead the redevelopment of the Speedway area to increase the attraction to businesses to come into the area.

I believe they did a tremendous improvement a few years back with the new lamps, median work and other details leading into the Speedway area from off of I-465 on the west side.

I feel anything they can do to further increase the development and commercial viability of that area is going to be worthwhile. What I’m not sure about though is how the residents of the area feel about the development. I know there are a number of people that live right along the main stretch that make a killing by using their property as parking for the hundreds and thousands of race fans that come into the area each year.

With the MotoGP and talks of Formula 1 coming back to the area, I think further developing the area is a plus. I’m sure it’s quite a disruption to the residents of the area though regardless.

Do you live in the area? What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

02
Dec

F1 Coming Back to Indy?

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Business, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500, Indy MotoGP, Indy Pro Athletes, Things To Do in Indy, US Grand Prix - F1

A recent article in the IBJ suggests they are, even saying that there’s the possibility they could be back for the 2009 Centennial Celebration of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

I still say the city of Indianapolis should chip in where they could to make sure this deal goes through. The biggest problem I see is Ecclestone in the F1 camp being a pain to work with in trying to negotiate a deal.

I wonder how that will effect the changes to the course they’re making/made in preparation for the MotoGP race starting up next year at the IMS? That race will be held for the first time at the Speedway on September 14th, 2008.

One thing good did come through F1 leaving Indianapolis for a year. My friend from Vegas who came in every year for the race and bought my ticket decided to come in 2008 for the Indy 500 and bought me a ticket. It will be the first time I’ve ever been to the 500 as well. I’m looking forward to it. Our tickets are right in front of pit row so that should be even cooler!

Photo Source: BBC Sports

31
Jul

Congratulations to Tony "Bad Mouth" Stewart

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Awards & Recognition, Brickyard 400, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, News, Sports

I’m certain that Tony Stewart isn’t the only professional athlete with a little sailor mouth. He seems to be the most popular one lately for not knowing when to keep his mouth shut or pay closer to attention to what he’s saying.

A hearty congratulations to him for winning the 14th Annual Brickyard 400 this past Sunday. That is of course where his tongue got going a little faster than his brain could keep on the track of media boundaries.

It does seem pretty accurate though what he was saying. It seems in NASCAR you either love or hate him, and if you hate him, you’re probably a Jeff Gordon fan instead.

Perhaps even more interesting is what was accomplished by Juan Pablo Montoya on Sunday.

Montoya made history immediately after “Desperate Housewives” actor James Denton waved the green flag to start the race, as he became the first driver in IMS history to compete in three major events at the track. In 2000, he won in his only Indianapolis 500 start. He started in six Formula One United States Grands Prix and his first Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday.

I’ve yet to attend a Brickyard or Indy 500 race. Up until this year, I’d never missed an F1 race at the track. Guess I’ll have to get my racing fix on one of the other races next year.

Photo Credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Article: Stewart Uses Late Pass to Win Allstate 400 at the Brickyard

22
Jul

Indianapolis Racing History

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Indianapolis History, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500

If you’re conscious at all you probably realize that Indianapolis is considered the racing capital of the world right? I read a little bit of trivia this week that I didn’t know about the history of racing in the city.

The first long-distance race in the U.S. was held on May 30, 1911 at the Speedway. I’m not sure why I wouldn’t have thought this initially, but it just caught me off guard a bit. Perhaps just as interesting though is that the average speed of the racers back then was 75mph, which coincidentally is probably the average speed of the racers commuters on I-465.

Source: Coffee News Indiana

Photo Credit: IndyCar

13
Jul

F1 Says Farewell

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Cultural Events, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sports, US Grand Prix - F1

The news came out today that Tony George wasn’t able to negotiate a deal with F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.

I probably could have called this correctly this year if I’d thought about it closer. I’ve never missed an F1 race in Indy thanks to a great friend. This year my wife surprised me with a great Father’s Day gift of enjoying a Cincinatti Reds game with my son and brother. It was excellent and I don’t regret spending Father’s Day with my family. The challenge was that I missed the last running of the event in Indianapolis, at least for the time being.

Much greater than my dissappointment with losing the race is the financial impact to the city. That’s what I’m not sure everyone in the local government understood clearly.

However, Schultz added, the $100 million annual loss will be offset by the MotoGP motorcycle race that will begin at IMS in fall 2008.

$100 million dollars every year it’s not here. And saying that having the MotoGP would offset it is somewhat accurate. The only challenge is we had MotoGP signed before we lost the deal with F1. We could have had both. I’m sorry, but isn’t Indianapolis the racing capital of the world? The city should have ponied up any cash Tony George couldn’t balance with Bernie.

Bernie Ecclestone isn’t innocent either though. He’s running a great organization, but he needs to understand that things need to be handled a little bit differently in the states. He’s competing with a much broader fan base of people who love racing and have plenty of other options available to them. With a little more customizing and compromise on his part, I believe Indianapolis could have begun serving as a springboard to build a huge American F1 fan base in the sport. It could have and should have led to another F1 race in the US in their season.

Motorsports experts are divided over who is the biggest loser after the announcement that Formula One will not return in 2008 to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. One observer, Tim Frost, president of the Chicago consulting firm Frost Motorsports, said the Speedway loses a global marquee event, while F1 loses one of the world’s largest markets for its teams. Local tourism officials also consider the loss a blow to their industry.

I’ll tell you who the losers are. Indianapolis. Bernie doesn’t care, he can go off and make the same amount of money somewhere else, but you tell me where Indianapolis is going to replace $100M+ annually in the near future?

Quote Source: IBJ