Indy Racing League in Kansas City

David and I went to Kansas City to watch the Indy Racing League race on Saturday.  Fun day.  David bought tickets so we could go into the infield near the garage and pit lane areas.  Very cool and alot of fun.  We were able to get close to several drivers as they went from the garage area to the building where the drivers' prerace meeting was held.  Amazed at how tiny all of the drivers are.  Danica is about Kelsey's size.  None were taller than me.  Good thing, because the cars are tiny.  Just large enough for a person to sit in the car with an engine behind the seat.  Great day.  Worth a little sunburn and a long, long day.  The track is the same length as Texas Motorspeedway.  One and one-half miles.  Half the seating, tho.  The Texas track can hold about 150,000 fans.  Kansas holds about 80,000 fans.  There were probably 30,000 people at the race.  The cars were traveling around 215 mph.  It takes them about 25 seconds to complete one lap.  When we drive in our cars at 60 mph, it takes us 90 seconds to go one and one-half miles. 

I think we were parked about a half mile from the track.  Not sure why they made us park so far away.  After the race, it seemed like 2 miles.

Some of the cars getting fueled up before the race.  They fill the cars with fuel before taking them to the inspection line.

Marco Andretti's car.  His dad is Michael Andretti.  Michael's dad is Mario Andretti.  You might have heard that name before from years ago.  Mario won the Indianapolis 500.  Marco's cousin, John Andretti, was in Saturday's race, too.

John Andretti's car going through the inspection line.

Scott Dixon's car leaving the inspection area.  He won the race.

 Close-up of one of the cars leaving the inspection area.  We were about 10 feet from the car.

 

Danica's car going through inspection.

David checking out Danica's car.  That made his day so far.  Until later, when we were much closer to her than he was to her car.  LOL

Al Unser Jr in the red hat.  He is from Albuquerque.  His dad, Al Sr., and his uncle, Bobby, were open wheel drivers many years ago with AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti.

John Andretti signing autographs.

Helio Castroneves.  He was on Dancing with the Stars a few years ago and won.

Danice Patrick signing autographs.  All of the drivers were within arm's length from us.

Standing in Victory Lane with the start/finish line and grandstands in the background.

Bro.

Podium.

Victory Lane.

View from our seats.  All of the cars are on pit road getting ready to start the race.

Danica's car on the track.

One car hit the wall after running into another car.

"Towing" one of the wrecked cars.  They pick the cars up on a hook behind the driver's seat and carry it.  One of the cars lost a front tire during the caution lap and it drove all the way around the track on 3 tires without wrecking.  The guy finished the race in the top ten.  Amazing.

Later, I will try to post a video of the cars going around the track.