As a kid, does any of your friends have a collection of model cars or airplanes? If so, you know that they are always the center of attention wherever they go. In reality, though, this is not the case. When kids get older and enter the world of speedway racing, they still want to be surrounded by adoration, but they want it to come from adults, not their friends. You’ll have to decide if this is you when you’re old enough to know what you want out of life, but not old enough to realize it.
What Is A Speedway Racer?
The name comes from the legendary Indianapolis 500, one of the most prestigious auto races in the world. As the name implies, a speedway racer is somebody who competes in speedway races, which are raced on oval tracks. This is a very different animal from other forms of racing, which are usually held on road courses or mountain roads. While most other forms of racing try to maximize the amount of vehicles involved and the number of people who show up to watch, speedway racing is all about who can go the fastest.
For decades, the Indianapolis 500 was the pinnacle of American automobile racing. Since they are held annually, it is no wonder that so many people were drawn to this race. Over the years, the Indianapolis 500 grew in stature, attracting more and more participants and fans. In fact, they eventually held the race on the first Sunday in May, which, as it turns out, is also when people are usually done with their winter holidays and ready to get back to work. Amazingly, despite growing in popularity, the Indianapolis 500 actually lost some of its original magic. This was probably due to the fact that in recent years they had to cut the grandstands down because they were sitting on an unsolvable plot of land registry office. Nowadays, people go to this race to spectate, rather than participate. Nevertheless, whether you’re an enthusiast or just want to know more about the sport, this article will teach you everything you need to know about speedway racing.
The Basics
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. If you are reading this, then you are most likely already aware that you need to understand the basics. Being the abbreviation for the Indianapolis 500, let’s look at the terminology first. A quick Google search will tell you that this is also referred to as the IndyCar Classic, which is the case. However, in most circles, it is still referred to as the Indy 500. As we mentioned earlier, the Indianapolis 500 is a famous American race that had its origins in 1911. Over the years, the race was initially only open to drivers from Indiana and surrounding states. This is because the track was built on land that was once part of Indiana. Years later, the race became an entire country-wide championship.
Since then, the Indianapolis 500 has been a stop on the motorsport itinerary for many people. Even those who don’t necessarily consider themselves to be avid racing fans know about this prestigious race. In addition to being the epitome of American motor racing, the Indianapolis 500 has also hosted a variety of famous individuals, including Marjorie Merriweather Post, the former publisher of the Washington Post; and former US President Richard Nixon, who served from 1949 to 1973. Sadly, the Indy 500 was held at a time when horse racing was at its peak, and many horse owners and trainers competed in the event. This often led to violence, with one race being named the “Bloody Indianpolis 500” (1973). After this race, the Indianapolis 500 was forced to move to a different track, which eventually became obsolete.
In the early 2000s, the organizers of the race decided that they wanted to bring it back to its original home. This time, they wanted to do things differently and hold the race in the middle of May, which is traditionally considered to be the best time of the year for auto racing. The resulting race, held in early May, is now known as the “IndyCar Grand Prix.” Interestingly, the name “IndyCar” was not used until 1997, well after the Indianapolis 500 had become famous as an annual event. Before that, the race was known as the “Indianapolis 500.” The names are virtually the same, but prior to 1997, the name “IndyCar” was not connected to the famous American race. This was because prior to that, the cars were mainly built and campaigned by the now-defunct Indianapolis Motor Speedway, who held formal races under the “Indy” banner (most notably, the Indianapolis 500) but also used the name IndyCar for their oval-track racing division. Once the two names were officially combined in 1997, the association became an immediate connection, and the public immediately began associating the new brand with the famous “Indy” race. Since then, the association between the IndyCar race and the Indy 500 has become nearly inseparable.
The Track
The track is one of the most important factors when it comes to racing. When you watch an IndyCar race, whether live or on television, you will notice that the cars always seem to be racing close to the walls, which are also known as the checkered flags. This is because the wall is the limiting factor for the drivers. Since the wall is there to prevent accidents from happening, the cars are always being driven close to the limit. In addition to the checkered flags, there are also caution and flashing lights at certain points on the track, which give the viewers some warning of what’s about to happen. On television, these points are identified by a yellow flag or a green flag, respectively.
The track is also the name given to the area between the white lines. This is where the cars are legally able to go, regardless of whether they are driving on the outside or the inside of the track. It is also the spot where the cars come to rest for a period of time after completing a lap. The track can be difficult to grasp due to the fact that there are four lanes of racing that converge into one. In addition to the white lines that demarcate the track itself, there are often white concrete walls that the cars hit once they enter the straights, adding to the difficulty of gauging speed.
The Racing
The cars in an IndyCar race are always in a continuous motion. This is because the track is usually either clockwise or counter-clockwise, which means the cars must constantly be turning. Even when the cars are standing still at a stoplight, they are usually beeping or roaring, transmitting a sense of continuous motion.
Many people compare the experience of watching an IndyCar race to that of being at a live concert. The cars seem to be performing in concert with each other, constantly moving in rhythmic patterns. This is because the drivers learn to work together as a team when competing in races, whether it’s a “show” of three laps or a “sprint” of 100 kilometers. When this happens on the track, it’s like watching a carefully choreographed dance. On the other hand, sometimes the drivers literally fight with each other, which makes for some interesting viewing as well.
One of the most distinguishing factors about an IndyCar race is how the drivers control their cars. As previously stated, the track limits the amount of room the cars have to move around. This is why the cars are always drifting or driving close to the wall. When this happens, the driver has to make a conscious effort to keep the car on the straight and narrow, otherwise they risk hitting a wall or going off of the track, which can lead to an accident or a DNF (Did Not Finish). This is why watching an IndyCar race is always such an active experience, as there is always something happening on the track, which could lead to an accident at any moment. In addition to this, the cars are constantly changing speed and direction, making for some very exciting moments during live races, and perfect replays when recorded on video.