I drove to the Gold Coast last weekend (about 1000K) for the Indy 300.

I took part in the car club parade on Saturday and the drivers parade immediately before the race. I was lucky enough to draw Dario Franchitti who is not only a bit of a crowd favourite, but a really nice guy.

Here's a picture of my S and Casey (my Indy girl ) waiting in the pits for the drivers.


I've got more photo's and MPEG's and they will appear shortly at:
http://byte.topthis.com.au/indy

 

I'm curious, on the parade lap, how fast did you get going? is it just like a tool around the subburbs? and when your with the driver, does he talk much? or does he just wave. I figure I'd grill 'em for all the wisdom I could given the opprotunity

Your very lucky!!

 

Umm, about 15kph . Actually got out of first once.

They are pretty psyched for the race and I think the parade lap and signing autographs is considered a necessary evil. That said, Dario (erhh - My Franchitti to the rest of you ) was fairly talkative. I was being a bit of a smart arse for a change. When we all got in the car I asked if anyone knew how to drive a manual (stick to you guys). And we were joking that this was the slowest lap he would ever do.

When Dario spun out on about lap 6 the people in the grandstands I was sitting with suggested Dario had finally got the joke I told him.

Also, apparently Dario isn't impressed with the whole Indy girl thing and last year was accompanied on the parade lap by his fiance the lovely Ashley Judd. I wished she'd've come along this year.

I was in Surfer's the next day and found a shop selling photos including a great one of my car on the parade lap. I bought a blow up of it and will scan it this evening when my scanner returns.

 

Nice one. Is there some sort of secure central parking (at the Mariott or wherever) where you all stop after the lap to watch the race?

I went downtown to see a client the Monday after the race and it's incredible how much powderised rubber is all over the road. It's everywhere.

I couldn't believe Tracy's luck dropping from 4th with a blown engine to slowly roll over the line in 14th place. At least he made it this year I guess

 

We had a whole section of the Marriott's car park with a security guard and all. Our cars could be left there any time over the weekend.

On the Sunday I drove to the Marriott, parked, walked to the North Gate and Unser stand and watched the GTP race. Then I strolled back to the Marriot, had some breakfast, jumped in the car and did the driver's parade. After the parade we had a Police escort back to the Marriott, parked, and walked back to the stand in time for the start of the race. Pretty dang cool if you ask me.

There are pictures of the scrutineering at the Marriott before the parades, including a pretty cool cold air intake one of the Queensland guys put together for a couple of hundred dollars.

The MPEGs are here

 

BTW, I am not the guy in this photo:

Just thought I'd make that clear.

Apparently he was some lucky punter who was picked at random to meet Dario and get to squeeze an Indy girl.

 

i'm so glad you made that clear cuz i was about to say...it's not what i imagined you'd look like

 

Hey Mingster...what are you doing spending time imagining what AusS2000 looks like anyways??

 

LOL, yeah, my eyes are closer together, my heads flatter, my ears stick out more, and I can usually be seen carrying a banjo.

But nice of you to think of me

 

Why "Indy" when it's a CART race?