My Favorite Day of the Year



For 364 days of the year I look forward to one day, and every single year that day is the best day of the year; the day I'm referring to and love so much is race day. The Indianapolis 500. The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. The biggest one day sporting event in the world. This day, for myself, and many others is absolutely magical, nothing can or ever will compare. I believe Al Unser Jr. put it best, whilst standing in victory lane after winning the 1992 Indy 500 by the closest margin in the 100 plus year history of the race when he said "You just don't know what Indy means." To an outsider this phrase will not have much meaning, and probably never will, but to those of us who have fallen in love with this race, the month of May and everything that comes with it, we know what he means. Most of us will never know what it means to win the race like Little Al did on two occasions, but we know what it means to us. Everyone who loves this race the way I do knows exactly what Indy means to them. So with those words in mind, I wanted to share my story of finding out what Indy means to me and all the moments that have made this day mean more than any other to myself.


My first 500 was in 2001, and my relationship with this race started off a little rocky. I was a huge NASCAR fan as a little kid and had already been to two Brickyard 400's at this time, but this was my first time coming to the spectacle that is the Indianapolis 500. I was 7 at the time, and I knew that this was the biggest race in the world, but it was just another race to me at the time. The Brickyard during this time was just as big, dare I say even bigger at the time as it would draw as many people as the 500 and as a NASCAR fan I looked forward to that race in August much more than this one. Looking back on it now, this day changed my life forever, but I would have never guessed that it would have been for the better on the walk home from that race. The race began with the pole sitter, Scott Sharp crashing in turn 2 of the first lap of the race, and with our seats being between turns 1 and 2, my first memory of the 500 mile race was seeing one of the favorites for the race eliminated before completing a single lap. The day ended with Helio Castroneves climbing the fence with his crew celebrating his victory. This was a great moment in the race's history,  but at the time I was not satisfied. You see, Castroneves was driving for Roger Penske, the most successful team owner of all time at the race with one of his drivers winning the race a record 16 times. Castroneves was a rookie and at the time didn't even drive in the Indy Racing League, the series that the race was competed under at the time. Team Penske was running in the other open wheel series, CART, and this was their first time back at the 500 since 1995. Oh, and their other driver, Gil de Ferran finished second. That walk home from the track was not a fun one, I learned about Penske's greatness and with our family's guy Michael Andretti finishing third, I knew I was certain about one thing and one thing only... I despised Team Penske.


Castoneves and crew climb the fence

In 2002 Castroneves won again. Penske had won again, the same driver had won again, and I was not happy again. At least Penske was now an IRL team. That's all I have to say about that.


2003 was somehow even worse, Gil de Ferran won this time and Penske repeated their 2001 1-2 finish with Castroneves finishing runner up. I had now been to three Indy 500s and seen Team Penske win every single year. I was convinced that I would never see anyone but Team Penske win this race.


2004 was the first time this race meant something more than just being at an awesome race and seeing a Team Penske car win. This also happens to be the 500 that I remember the least for it's on track action. I'm still not sure this race actually ever happened due to how little I remember of it. This is one of those things that makes the race so special though, you don't have to even see a lap for the race to make a major impact on you and your life, looking at you Turn 3. What I do remember is that this race finished early due to rain and that there was a very long rain delay which included a tornado warning. I remember running back to my grandparent's house during the rain delay with the rest of my family, and once we got there a lot of messing around with my brother and cousin in my grandparent's basement. No one thought the race would resume, and we believed we would be back the next day, but much to our surprise after almost 2 hours cars were back on track. We ran back to the track and after 450 miles the race was ended due to rain. And even though I remember virtually none of the on track action of this race, I remember Team Penske finally did not win as Buddy Rice took the checkered flag for Rahal-Letterman Racing. This day meant a lifelong memory and my first time leaving the race satisfied with the winner.


The next year DanicaMania was running wild, brother! Danica Patrick, the rookie driver driving for Rahal-Letterman Racing who just so happened to be a woman was the talk of the sporting world. She had shown promise in the races before the 500 and nobody had ever seen a woman challenge the men at this level in any sport. As a young kid, I couldn't of cared less about Danica and I was just ready for everyone to shut up about her. Never in my wildest dreams could I have foresaw how that month of May and the 2005 version of the race would end. Danica would take the lead on the final restart of the race with just 10 laps to go and the 250,000 plus in attendance went absolutely bananas. The biggest Danica hater of them all, 11 year old Brandon Preda, also went crazy. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, suddenly everyone in attendance was pulling for her to bring it home. I don't know if I've ever heard the speedway come alive in one moment as it did that day. She was short on fuel however, and Dan Wheldon would win the race, who was my cousin Kyle's favorite driver; Dan also happened to drive for Andretti Green Racing, our families favorite team. It felt like an eternity since those three straight Penske wins and what a special day that was.

Two. Thousand. And. Six. This was the year that changed everything. In 2006, everything was different. For the first four years of my attending the race, virtually my whole family had gone to the race together. This crew was a pair of aunt and uncles, my cousin Kyle, my mom and dad, my brother, and my grandpa. We would all get together at my grandparents before the race, walk to the track, as they live about a mile away, and then grill out and hang out after the race. For whatever reason though, besides for my grandpa and cousin, they all decided that they would not be attending the 500 that year. This also meant losing our seats between turns one and two, which while not the best seats in the house, are always a very consistent and good place to watch good racing. My grandpa ended up getting seats right behind the pits at the entrance of turn one. This meant we could see the start finish line, not very well but we could see it in the distance. Our view was basically a short part of turn one and that was it. By far the worst seats I've had for the race, but the day would end up being the most impactful on my love affair with this race. I've already stated that the Andretti's are our guys, the reason being is my Grandpa's friendship with Aldo Andretti. Aldo is Mario Andretti's twin brother and former NASCAR and INDYCAR driver John Andretti's father. Not to mention being Michael Andretti's uncle. So although I do not know them, my grandpa's friendship with Aldo always meant that we would cheer for the Andrettis. And in 2006, a new Andretti was beginning his racing career, Marco, a 19 year old rookie. '06 also saw the return of his father Michael to the race, his first time back behind the wheel at IMS since 2003. Michael is one of the greatest American Open Wheel drivers of all time but had never captured the 500, due to a lot of bad luck, enough bad luck that the Andrettis are considered cursed at the 500. Mario won the race in 1969, and ever since 'The Andretti Curse' has haunted the family to a grand total of zero victories. Michael in particular, had the race won without a shadow of a doubt in 1992 before his engine blew with just 10 laps remaining while leading the race. The incredible bad luck had led most to believe an Andretti would never win the race again coming into the 90th running of the greatest spectacle in all of motorsports. The race was a solid one all day long, with the usual front runners doing well, along with great racing throughout. And then it happened. Marco and Michael had run close to each other all day, ranging from around 8th to 15th throughout the race. A very respectable race for a 19 year old and his father coming out of retirement for one race. What happened was one of the luckiest cautions in the race's 90 year history, lucky for the Andrettis that is. With 10 laps remaining, the caution would come out for a wreck putting Michael in the lead and Marco in second, as they would restart the race with just 4 laps to go. Michael moved to the lead because of fuel strategy and Marco was in the pits at the time of the caution, whereas the other leaders ended up having to pit during the caution shuffling Marco to second and Michael to first on older tires. I couldn't believe what was happening, and as they took the green flag with 4 to go Marco would pass his dad for the lead in turn one, and for as bad as our seats were, we had the best seats in the house for this pass. It was over, the 19 year old kid was going to win this thing in his first try. The Andretti Curse was over. I hugged my cousin Kyle on the last lap as we jumped up and down celebrating the last lap and what was sure to be an Andretti victory on the next lap. My eyes were glued to that start finish line in the distance to my right, waiting to see Marco cross it first. He didn't though, he was passed at the line by Sam Hornish Jr., who had been strong all day and had gotten around Michael 2 laps before. Hornish also happened to drive for, yep, you guessed it, Team Penske. This was heartbreak at a whole new level, but in that moment I was hooked for life. My guy had the race won, and every year since I go into race day anticipating what it would be like to see Marco finally get the job done. I don't know if it will ever happen but that hope and optimism are what makes this race mean so damn much. No driver cares about 2nd at the 500, no fan cares about their guy getting a "good finish." The dream for 33 drivers each year is to have their face forever immortalized on the Borg Warner Trophy, finishing anywhere but 1st means nothing. And every year the night before the race everyone believes they have a chance, anything can happen in 500 miles. The 90th running showed me anything can happen, and I will always be hopeful that things may one day go right for an Andretti at Indianapolis.

Since 2006 I look forward to the race more and more each year, as it has for the last decade plus become a day that I get to spend with my Grandpa, since for many years after the 2007 version of the 500 we were the only two from the original group still attending. Some have now returned, with my cousin David now attending the race with us as well. Getting to spend this day with all the people who I've gotten to spend it with truly is special to me as this race brings people together like no other. For the next five years the race for me became a back drop to a day that meant getting to be at the racetrack with my grandpa and share in the history and tradition at the speedway. For us, there is nothing better than just being at that track enjoying the history and the cars go around. It wasn't until 2011 that the thrill of victory and agony of defeat would ring as true as it did in 2006. It was a similar story as well, due to fuel strategy rookie J.R. Hildebrand would have the lead on the last lap with 2nd place nowhere in sight. Coming into turn 4 Hildebrand would try to go high on a lapped car, getting him out of the groove and smacking the wall less than a straightaway from immortality. He still almost won the race, but it was that man from 2005 again, Dan Wheldon, who was running second and would take the checkered flag. I went crazy, I did not want to see Hildebrand win at all and everyone who followed INDYCAR at the time loved Wheldon. A guy who was running his only race of the season after not being asked to come back by Panther Racing due to inefficiencies on road courses. The man hired to replace Dan at Panther Racing was J.R. Hildebrand. Poetic justice at its finest, while at the same time being incredibly heartbreaking. Indy meant everything to Dan, as the tears he had in victory lane would show his love for the speedway, and on the 100th Anniversery of the race, the track picked the perfect man to kiss the bricks for the second time. This day, however, would turn out to be the last time the speedway was graced with Wheldon's charismatic charm. Dan Wheldon would unfortunately pass away later that year at the last race of the season in Las Vegas. It was the only other race he ran in 2011, a planned tune up for the 2012 season where Dan was going to return to full time competition with Andretti Autosport. In Indianapolis Dan Wheldon will never be forgotten, that moment and his passion for racing in general is why so many people fall in love with the speedway and the race year after year. It was his personality and passion for doing what he loved that made people love him, not his ability to drive a car. One of the greatest champions the motor speedway will ever see.

In 2012 my Grandpa didn't get to go to the race with me because it was too hot for him. This was tough, but it gave me a chance to experience my favorite day of the year with someone else. I went with my buddy Ian and what a race we saw. What we saw at the finish was an all or nothing move by Takuma Sato to take the lead on the final lap of the race. He came away with nothing as he spun out and wrecked as Dario Franchitti would drink the milk on a blazing hot day. I was reminded that day what second place means, and that is nothing. Sato went for it and failed, which is exactly why I love this race so much, nothing else matters except for winning.



The next year was all about love. For me, it meant taking my girlfriend at the time to her first 500 and sharing the day I love so much with someone that I was in love with at the time. It also meant the most beloved driver at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway finally getting his chance to kiss the bricks and taste the milk. Tony Kanaan, after a decade plus of heartbreak during the race sealed the deal in 2013. Kanaan had become the most popular driver at the track years earlier for his personality, his love of Speedway and the month of May. Year after year Kanaan's race ended with a wreck, bad luck, or even untimely weather which was the case in 2007. It didn't matter though, every year TK came back to the track happier than anyone and ready to give it another shot at his favorite place in the world. But 2013 was different, TK would win under caution and for the final 3 laps of caution the place went crazy like I hadn't seen since Danica took the lead in 2005. Then, most people stayed after the race to see Tony come around on the winner's victory lap, something that doesn't take place til around 20 minutes after the race is over. An incredible moment about love and respect between a driver, the speedway, and the people who love this day as much as I do. A day I will always cherish.

 

This race is more than just a day, it's a whole month that is building up to this moment. The biggest day of this build up is what is known as Carb Day. Annually on the Friday before the race, Carb Day is a truly magical time, an absolute shit show of drunks, a celebration of life, as well as the race that will come in two days. Each year there is a concert at Carb Day and in 2016 that concert just so happened to be Journey. This was an amazing experience, as I was at my favorite place in the world jamming out to a band I never imagined seeing in person. The track brings people together and that's what Carb Day does every year. The day is to some a bigger deal than the race itself, and I will tell you that it is impossible to have a bad time at Carb Day.

2016 also happened to be the first 'sellout' in 500 history, as this was the 100th running of the race, and a major milestone in the event's history. The 100th was awesome, seeing a rookie in Alexander Rossi do what J.R. Hildebrand could not do in 2011, work the fuel strategy and steal the win. The crowd loved it, Rossi was a very popular winner and seeing absolutely zero empty seats at the track that day made it even sweeter. I spent $200 on my ticket but I will never miss this race regarding something crazy happening in my life. Last year was about redemption in another way as Takuma Sato would get his victory after failing in 2012. It's these stories that make this race more special each year. The 2018 version will be no different.

Last year was a year that made me appreciate everything about this race more than I already did previously. This appreciation came in the form of two terrible wrecks, both of which the drivers were very lucky to walk away from. I attended the first day of qualifying last year for the race which saw Sebastian Bourdais run a blistering lap putting his car on the temporary pole. You have to complete 4 laps in 500 qualifying though, not 1, and on lap 2 Bourdais lost control and went head first into the wall. I had never experienced anything like that in person and I hope I never do again. This wasn't even the race, but I was reminded how much it means that these guys are literally willing to put their lives at serious risk just to qualify up front for this race. I, along with any other fan of INDYCAR racing will never be able to thank these drivers for doing what they do for our entertainment. And if you've never seen qualifying at Indianapolis, it truly is a sight to behold. There is nothing quite like seeing a car pushed to its absolute limit with the driver on the edge of hanging onto the car.

The second of which came right in front of me during the race when Scott Dixon went flying through the air. It was like time stopped in that moment and everything went silent. Last year was all about appreciation for me and I couldn't be more thankful both guys walked away and are returning to IMS this year.

These days, as much as I love the race, it's everything else that brings me back and makes me fall in love again year after year. The pre race ceremonies might be my favorite part of the race, from Back Home Again in Indiana to America the Beautiful to the National Anthem and the Flyover. Everything about the pre race is unexplainable, and until you have attended you have no idea what I am talking about. And then the green flag drops, and for the next three hours all is right with the world. So, on May 27th, 2018 I will be at my favorite place in the world for my 18th straight Indianapolis 500, and I can't wait to spend the day with my Grandpa and cousin as we celebrate the best day of the year. Indy means everything that is right with this world, the celebration of life, our relationships, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Simply put, my favorite day of the year.

- Brandon Preda

Part Two Year 22. For the 22nd time in my life, I will be attending the Indianapolis 500. I originally wrote this blog in 2018, and I don't think any of us could have ever predicted what would happen to this race and to our world in the five years since. Every year is special at the speedway, no matter what. But some years are much more special, fun, memorable, whatever the case than others. And that is okay. 2018 was one of those not so memorable years. A very straightforward race that saw Will Power dominate most of the day and take the checkered flag. For myself and others who love the 500 like myself, the quality of the race does effect how special the day is each year, but that effect is minimal. As I talked about in the original version of this blog, the day is about so much more than the race that at times the race is almost secondary to everything else that the day means. I didn't know it at the time but 2018 marked the last year that the quality of the race would put a small damper on my day. More on that in a minute. The next year was Indy. It's the best way I can describe it. If you get it, you get it, and if you don't, you need to get your ass to this race and understand. At Indy, no one is owed anything. 2 time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso learned this the hard way leading up to the 104th running of the race. Driving for motorsport giant McLaren, Alonso was bumped from the field by single car team Juncos Hollinger Racing with driver Kyle Kaiser. The stories at Indy are unpredictable and this was the perfect encapsulation of that. The ultimate Cinderella story being told, while crushing the dreams of a team that clearly thought Indy owed them something. From the first Indy 500 in 1911, this place has rewarded the dreamers, the grinders, the innovators, and those who inspire those hopes and dreams in others. I hope that never changes. The race was special as well, seeing a driver doing everything he possibly could to win the race, yet still coming up short. Alexander put on an absolute show, showcasing for the 300,000 strong how much winning this race means. Simon Pagenaud drank the milk on that day, outdueling Rossi all the way to the last lap of the race. He stopped at the yard of the bricks after the race, got out of his car, and celebrated with the fans on the front stretch. This meant everything to him as well and he wanted to show Indy how grateful he was for what he had just accomplished and the support given back to him from those fans. A very underrated Indy moment in my opinion to conclude one of my favorite Indy 500s ever. Twenty-Twenty. Do I need to say anything more? When I mentioned that the quality of the race matters zero now to how special race day is, I think it kind of goes without saying thar 2020 is the reason why. The race was taken from us. Due to the Covid pandemic, the race ended up being run in August for the first time ever, with zero fans in attendance. If you were taking the things you love for granted before 2020, I really hope that is no longer the case. Race day and the month leading up to it is about friends and family, and since 2020 I have made an effort to soak up every single second at the track as the reality of never knowing when it may be your last or someone else's last that you attend with. Three years have passed now and for me the best word to sum up that awful awful year is appreciation. I now appreciate this race more than I ever thought I could. I appreciate those who I get to attend the race with more than I did before. I appreciate what Memorial Day means more than ever. I appreciate every single part of what makes the month of May special more than I ever thought I could. After 2020, the next year at the speedway was naturally going to be one of the most emotional of anyone's lifetime, no matter how young or old. What was supposed to be my 21st consectuvive race was now my 20th and the start to a new streak. This day was culmination of a year plus of heartbreak and tragedy for so many. 2021 was a day to forget about all that and just enjoy all that is great in this world. To say what happened on race day two years ago was a fairy tale would be an insult to fairy tales. I still have no words to describe it or how it happened, but the track delivered the ultimate day of healing for those who love this race. At 46 years old, Helio Castroneves won his record tying fourth Indianapolis 500. This wasn't just a fourth win though. This was the most beloved driver at the speedway over the last two decades accomplishing what most thought was now impossible at his age. This was a celebration. This was jubilation and relief. This was a welcome back to the speedway in the most spectacular way. This was needed. For so many, if only in a small way, this was healing. My full thoughts on the race can be read here at https://brandon-preda.blogspot.com/2022/05/it-really-happened.html 2021 was also extra special for me because I got to bring the person I love the most, my girlfriend Alyssa, to her first 500. To see her enjoy "my day" meant the world to me and I couldn't be happier that she will be attending with me again for the third consecutive year in a few days. Last year was the return to "normal" at the speedway, signifying the next step in our healing process in the world and for the race. After 2021 saw limited capacity, last year saw the grandstands packed again, as well as the party returning to the infield. What happens in the infield, the outrageous party that is the Indy 500 for those who unfortunatly don't enjoy the racing, is as much a part of the day as anything else. Those people help make the day what it is and has been for so long, so it was great to see them back at the track enjoying the day with the rest of us. The race delivered with an unexpected winner in Marcus Ericsson, who held on to the win after a late race caution put his surefire win in doubt. Over the course of the last year, Marcus has endeared himself to the Indianapolis community and has been a great champion of the 500. This year. This freaking year. This year has been and will continue through race day to be the most special year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that I've ever had. As I talked about a little bit earlier, my girlfriend Alyssa will be coming for her third Indy 500. What I didn't talk about is that somehow, someway, this girl has turned into a huge IndyCar fan. To say I didn't see this coming would be the understatement of the century. I pretty much had to beg her to come to her first 500 in 2021. Now here we are two years later watching every race together. Every qualifying session too. To share my love for the IndyCar Series with someone I love so much is so much fun for me and I couldn't be luckier. She's not just along for the ride either, she's driving the train, creating new month of May traditions, and teaching me to soak up every second of the month even more than I thought I was doing. With her ambitious attitude, we're doing it all for the first time in my life. This means the Grand Prix, both qualifying days, Carb Day, the parade, and the race. The whole month of May experience minus a regular practice day. After all these years, I've never done everything in a single year. I've always missed at least one of those days. I've never included the parade in my month of May besides for one time when I was five years old, having only a very vague memory of that. As long as we can, this looks like it will be the new tradition for us because, well, why not? The month of May is only here one time a year, so might as well experience all it has to offer before its gone. As we so sadly found out in 2020, we have no idea when it all may be taken from us. The grand prix was the first stop on our month of May tour and it was a great appetizer for the Indy 500, as it always is. The next day we spent at the track was Saturday qualifying, which turned out to be quite possibly the most special day I've ever had at the track. And it had nothing to do with the racecars. Indianapolis is about passing down the love of the sport and the speedway to the next genearation. Families have been coming here for hundreds of years now. More than anything, these traditions are what makes Indy what it is. This past Saturday, I got to do that for the first time in my life. Alyssa and I took her three year old daughter to the track for her first time. She had a fantastic day, better than I could have ever imagined, and it will be a day we both cherish for a very long time. She loved seeing the cars go round and round, the sound, rolling down the viewing mounds, seeing the cars up close, picking out a driver figurine, taking pictures, and driving her own "racecar." Enjoying that day with her meant the world to me. The day wasn't about who was fastest or slowest, it was about the people I love in my life the most. Spending time with them and making lifelong memories, something this track has done for countless families before mine and will continue to do for many years well past when we are all gone. On the track, this year means having a driver to root for again. I grew up cheering for anyone with the last name Andretti, so with that being said it has been several years since I've had someone to truly get behind in the race. Marco Andretti has been in the race every year but has been uncompetitive since 2016 and will be well off the pace this year as well. Sorry Marco. Over the last year however, my girlfriend has become a massive Pato O'Ward fan, mainly due to his good looks and charisma. (Two things I try and convince her I have in spades as well, not sure she's convinced). Many others have taken notice as well it seems to Pato, as he has become the most popular IndyCar driver I can recall since Danica Patrick. As someone who roots more for the health and growth of the series more than anything, naturally I find myself wanting Pato to be very successful as I believe him having success is very beneficial for growing the series. So on race day, I will have my Pato O'Ward jersey on hoping more than anything he can be the one drinking the milk at the end of the day. I want this series to grow and to be much more popular than it is, and an O'Ward 500 victory I believe gives the series it's best shot at some much needed growth if it can capitalize on his popularity. So he may not be my outright favorite guy every race, but for the 500 Pato is my guy. He should be who you're cheering for more than anyone else on race day if you love IndyCar, no matter if he is your favorite driver or not. To see the joy and reaction from my girlfriend if he were to win as well would be undescribably cool for me as well. She lives and dies with his performances each raceday and I love seeing that passion from her. My only worry is she may give myself or someone near us a black eye with her uncontrolled celebration, fists flying every which way in pure jubilation. I hope it happens for her and for the series more than anything. No matter who wins though, this year will be another incredibly memorable and special year spent at my favorite place in the world on my favorite day of the year. By about 4:00 pm on Sunday afternoon, there will be a new face on the Borg Warner trophy, coolers will be dumped out, grandstands will be clearing, and hundreds of thousdands of people will be heading back home. And the first thought that will be on our collective minds... is it May 2024 yet?