Mike Wells balanced his feet on the windshield and sat on the most sensitive part of the beam that crosses the open roof of his Jeep Wrangler. The 59-year-old man looked through his binoculars and lifted his heels to see the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was 1:20 p.m., approximately halfway through the first qualifying circular on IMS on Saturday and one of the times of the day.
His fisherman’s hat threw an display of his polarized lenses, but the sun shone in opposition to his bare back. His bright yellow racing jersey placed in the front passenger seat. It’s ‘very hot’. He brought an umbrella, but he hit the bad boy when he left his house this morning.
“This thing is small, ” said Wells. “If it rains, it will keep the golf clubs from getting wet.
Still, Wells had planned to toughen it. After 46 years (53 if you count the other times you have looked from the outside), you feel compelled to do so. On the first day of qualifying, Wells and between 40 and 50 others piled up on the sidewalks of 16th Street through a hole in the stands at the time of the racetrack.
Most were Indianapolis citizens and almost all were ordinary participants in the race who may not bear to get lost after IMS and IndyCar decided there was no other way to celebrate the race than without the enthusiasts they provide because of the coronavirus pandemic. On days like this, Wells, Tyler Blume, Edward Martin and others simply appreciate the noise, the energy. Larry Chapman can show his seat from where he stands on the fence; however, it is 50 meters from normal.
But race day will be different. As many as local enthusiasts are, Indianapolis’ 500 miles brings together others from around the world. Part of the joy for local enthusiasts is to introduce participants for the first time to the excitement of the race. But this year, when the coronavirus pandemic devastated the country, threatening the race at the start and placing itself in empty bleachers, those detours will look largely from home.
“I have more of a laugh popping up for the first time,” Blume said. “It adds to the delight because it’s more fun to share it with Array”
The exclusive delight of the race creates experts quickly, and ordinary participants have fun with the surprise and worry of newcomers on the first turn. When Wells was 20, he attended the 1983 Indy 500 with an organization of friends. By then, he was gone nine years. Maybe it only distinguishes a smart breed from a bad one.
He remembered a car from the Penske team flying down the track. “There’s a walk right there,” he tells his friends. “It will have to be at least 231, 232.”
The speed flashes on the board and is a little more than 231 miles consistent with the time. The next car arrived even faster. He guessed 233. It’s 233. The next slowest car. You may notice through the noise. One more time.
Two men who sat him were surprised, “How do you know this?” he was asked.
“I’ve been coming here a long time, ” Wells.
No matter how localized IndyCar’s fandom is, confusion with this kind of wisdom is much more common in Indy 500. Blume met other people from Germany and France during the race. Not long ago, Chapman and his wife, Karen, were also outside the towers. They made the approximately 500-mile adventure from Des Moines, Iowa, each year and eventually moved to Indianapolis to get close to the race track.
Outside the IMS on Saturday, other people showed up so as not to miss the photographs and sounds. Having a story to tell too. But there’s no end to it.
More than the Indianapolis 500 2020:
The sound of the curse when the tires scraped the asphalt with a higher volume when the car on the track approached the time of turning. Wells remained silent, constant in his posture and looked through his binoculars. Ric Frataccia waited for the car to fire, then looked his head around Wells’ windshield.
“Do you mind if I avoid here next to you?” asked Frataccia, pointing to the empty gravel spot on 16th Street.
“Not at all, ” Wells.
Ric dragged his Jeep and his son, Ryder, sat on the sunroof. Before long, they perfectly weaved their shared memories from other angles: the madness of Alexander Rossi’s victory at the Indy 500 in 2016 or when JR Hildebrand’s car crashed into the wall, paving the way for Dan Wheldon.
Of course, the device may be better, they agreed. The bathroom at the Speedway service station down the street has been closed for just over a week. But it’s a race where you just have to be there. There’s no other smart way to enjoy it.
“It’s a lifestyle, isn’t it?” asked Frataccia.
“That’s the case, ” replied Wells.
The two ex-foreigners agreed. Frataccia climbed on the roof with her son and Wells passed her shirt. A few minutes later, they laughed and joked again.
“Indy’s enthusiasts are another race,” Wells said. “We love others.”
Follow IndyStar reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.
Nine fast
98. Marco Andretti, Andretti / Herta / Curb-Agajanian, Honda, 231.351
28. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 233,330
27. Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 231,268
29. James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 231.195
9. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 231.155
21. Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 231.114
55. Alex Palou, Coyne/ Goh, Honda, 231,034
15. Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Honda, 230,822 mphph
30. Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Honda, 230,792
Row 4
88. Colton Herta, Andretti / Harding / Steinbrenner, Honda, 230,775
8. Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 230,566
45, Spencer Pigot, RLL / Lemon / Buhl, Honda, 230,539
Row 5
1. Josef Newgarden, Penske Team, Chevrolet, 230,296
10. Felix Rosenqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 230,254
5. Patrick O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 230.213
Row 6
20. Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 230,211
26. Zach Veach, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 229.961
47. Conor Daly, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 229,955
Row 7
18. Santino Ferrucci, Coyne / Vasser-Sullivan, Honda, 229,924
60. Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda, 229,861
7. Oliver Askew, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 229.760
Row 8
12. Will Power, Penske Team, Chevrolet, 229.701
14. Tony Kanaan, A.J. Foyt Racing, Chevrolet, 229,154
41. Dalton Kellett, A.J. Foyt Racing, Chevrolet, 228,880
Row 9
22. Simon Pagenaud, Penske Team, Chevrolet, 228,836
66. Fernando Alonso, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 228,768
51. James Davison, Coyne / Ware / Byrd / Belardi, Honda, 228,747
Row 10
3. Helio Castroneves, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 228,373
4. Charlie Kimball, A.J. Foyt Racing, Chevrolet, 227,758
59. Max Chilton, Carlin, Chevrolet, 227,303
Row 11
24. Sage Karam, Dreyer – Reinbold, Chevrolet, 227,099
67. J.R. Hildebrand, Dreyer and Reinbold, Chevrolet, 226,341
81. Ben Hanley, DragonSpeed, Chevrolet, 222,917