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Autographed Will Power "Hero Card" from
the 2014 Sonoma IndyCar race. (the Tomaso Collection)
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As look Mwah, haven't even said how HOT it was at
Indy, Yet...
Presumably everybody has a story about the
eventual race's winner. And if My Name is; Err, Uhm One Lap Down's
"Jeffie" can wax-on 'bout this year's Barber's race being akin to my
Hometown's Seafair and its Unlimited Hydroplanes. Then I can Bloody well tells
Yuhs my Will Power story, Righto?
Since Karmically, it occurred during my one 'N only
outing in the vaunted IMS Media Center, which Jeff not only encouraged me
applying for a credential. along with spending a very pleasant few hours with
him on Carb Day that year...
Toowoomba
Toranadoe' Flashback
First off, and surely you'll just think I'm
sayin' I-T now, but. On Friday during this year's Carb Day I pronounced to Dave,
my personal IMS Sherpa that Will Power would win, along with previously having
scribbled how Danica would hit the Wall.
Thus I just sat Thar Bemusedly letting Dave
tell me All of his Will Power wisecracks, like him calling him Whiney Will! And
a bunch 'O others I'll refrain from, for which I just laughed off.
It was Wayback following my Debutante Indy
500 in 2009, when the "Racing Gods" struck me, again. As former
Indianapolis Bureau Chief Daniel Baines Cooper had taken me to what then was
the Hall of Fame museum inside Mother Speedway (IMS( the day after the race.
And having just learned of the Blue Crown
Spark Plugs Racing Team earlier that year, naturally I had to ask the IMS
Museum's Docent at the entryway if they had Mauri Rose’s 1947-48 INDY 500
winning Blue Crown chassis on display?
Yes, it's
right in there turn left at the first hallway, before Danny took off to blast
thru the museum, while I decided to start at the end of the row after we’d
briefly viewed Rose’s mount...
Thus as I stood admiring Parnelli Jones 1963
Indy 500 winner 'Ol Calhoun', Danny returned, looked behind me, did a double
take and then asked; Do you want to meet Will Power? Uh Duh!
Hence amazingly, in a virtually empty IMS Museum,
there were a group of three persons standing directly behind us. And as I
turned around Danny introduced me to Will and before I knew it I was shaking
hands; CRIKEYS!
Then I sheepishly asked him how far he’d
gotten up to? (During the 500) Saying I think I heard third over the PA system,
to which Power replied; I’ got up to second and was chasing down Helio.
Then I mentioned to him how I’d heard
something about his insane training regimen? You’re doing a Triathlon shortly
aren’t you? NO! All of that was my Trainer’s idea, but I did do the Mini 500
this month.
Any chance we’ll see you in anymore races
this year? Well hopefully I’ll be doing about six more? And then we said our
goodbyes as I overheard Will telling his party that an old friend had told him
about the museum...
As recall this is
the year Power had been Drafted into Team Penske as Helio Castroneves potential
replacement, as HULIO' was on trial for Tax Evasion! And Will was driving a
yellow & blue Penske Truck Rentals liveried car, as ultimately the third Shoe'
at Penske that season.
And simple as that, I instantly became a Fan
of Will Power's, even going so far as having Dave help me procure a Will Power
T-Shirt between 2011-12 at the Brickyard, now somewheres' buried in Tomaso
Manor.
Not to mention the torment of Power causing
me to G-O Berserk Yearly upon his eventual Title Meltdown's, usually to that Dastardly
Dario "REO Speedwagon" Franchitti.
Whilst I realize
it's a Stir-retch', but Will Power has a nebulous connection to the Pacific
Northwest and one of my past Hometown Racing Teams. As KV Racing Technology, the
team he was driving for during the IndyCar Reunification, prior to being signed
by Penske, was supposedly founded out of the Ashes of PacWest Racing...
Speedway Sauna'
Otay, so I cannot say I was looking forward
to the Day's outing in the Blazing Heat. Although having been to another
Scorcher Wayback in 2013, somehow this year's race-day felt Hotter; ZOINKS!
As I knew it was gonna be a H-O-T one, when
sometime between 5:30-6AM, when trying to apply a layer of Suntan lotion, I
began pourin' buckets 'O sweat whilst trying to apply a liberal coating for the
Day's outing; SHEISA! Musing to Thyself I Don't think you're supposed to apply
it to wet skin, Eh?
But it's a pleasure to ride with a local who
knows All the short-cuts, Back routes and Secret ways to the racetrack, not to
mention the luxury of just being a Passenger and NOT having to deal with the
stress of Driving...
Not to mention
CARPETS' packing 'N schlepping multiple waters and an always tasty lunch for
Us!
Think we left sometime before 7AM and were
parked around 8AM? About a half mile's Trek away from the track, and after
putting a second coat of Shellac; Err Suntan lotion on a now relatively
"Dry" body due to our windows rolled-down AC, and with my world
renown famous "Floppy Hat" secured upon thou Noggin', we set off towards
Mother Speedway.
Ingress thru Security and Ticketing seemed
like a Breeze, compared to year's past. As we were situated underneath our
Grandstand's Bleachers prior to 9AM, with nearly some three an
a-half hours remaining until going Green!
As Dave playfully asked me if I wanted to go to our seats? HELL NO! And
Bake upon those world famous Shiny Hard-pan silver aluminum bleachers, in the
Sun!
Around 10AM we meandered over to the IMS
Museum to meet some friends, as it was just plain H-O-T in the Sun without a
Cloud in the Sky, before we departed back to our shady respite beneath our
seats in the Short Chute between Turns 1-2, now our favourite vantage point for
the race.
As finally Dave decided it was time for us to
amble up to our seats, for which I was overly surprised how the grandstands
were nearly full as we situated ourselves topside around 11AM-ish, as I only
recall Dave telling me one hour to G-O!
As funniest part
for Mwah, was that the man, who Dave thought was a local, had purchased two
seats, with one being for his Cooler, I kid Yuhs Not!
And for most of the race, all I could hear
was the constant roar of the racecars, and the only time I could totally
understand what "The voice," nee Dave Calabro or bob Jenkins were
saying over the Public Address was when the track went eerily "Quiet"
during one of the multiple Yellow Flag periods.
As I heard Calabro say "It's A New Track
Record!" Uhm, Heat Record at 1:45PM Eastern, but He never said what that
was, or how Hot it was, before the roar of engines under the Green Flag Drowned
him Out again.
Whilst I was most
tickled over hearing Bob Jenkins voice live once again, as he's such a true
Gentleman! And his soothing voice and Humbleness brings a Smile to My Face...
And I have to say I was Happy with the Fans
Applause for HULIO', whom I've never been a H-U-G-E Fan of, in case Y'all
cannot tell.
but I was happy hearing him during Monday
Night's Victory Banquet broadcast on local TV that he'd be back for another
try, since He said I cannot go out that way.
And then I roared in Glee over the man Jeff Iannucci
of One Lap Down named DJ WillyP' a long time ago, when Will Power triumphantly
swept to a well deserved maiden Indy 500 victory! Yelling vociferously, and
Hooting 'N Hollerin' next to Dave that Will Power had Won!
As I especially enjoyed Power's Victory
Parade Lap afterwards, and chuckled inwardly to myself when I asked Dave if he
could take a picture of Power, to which he responded, He's too Far Away. Which
to Mwah, perfectly Sums up Power's In-car Radio retort upon taking the
Checkered Flag.
"Show Me some Respect Mother Fuckers!"
And as I type this now nearly a month's time later,
although I know who "first Loser," Uhm runner-up was, and know
Alexander Rossi finished a fine fourth place. But I already cannot remember who
finished third? And does it really matter...
Uhm, was it Scott Dixon?
For
the third and final portion of this ever growing story, see; INDY 500: Random Musings from Another enjoyable visit to the Wonderful IMS Museum