Ever been in a car going 180 mph and the only thing that separates you from danger – and likely death – is a racing helmet? That was my Wednesday at Indy, but the car was driven by Mario Andretti, the legend who won here in 1969 and is the Indy Car all-time lap leader with 7,595. Normally I wouldn’t trust a 76 year old to go 180.
Some of you are devastated to know the safety harness worked and I didn’t fly out & die on the track.
Observation from going around Indy for two laps with Mario:
• There’s more room than I expected in the two-seater. Besides a cramp in the back of my knee as I was getting in, no issues. Andrew Luck rode in the same seat about 30 minutes before my ride. He’s 6-4 and fit fine.
• Leaving the pits feels like what I imagine it feels like to be launched out of a rocket.
• It looked and felt like we were gliding over the infield grass as we were exiting pit road. That’s a feeling I’ll never forget.
• Very calm feeling down the straightaways. Just sat there and looked around.
• It felt like the car was going to roll heading into every corner.
• There were 3-4 cars on the track doing laps at once.
• Andretti drove for what seemed like hours with very few breaks. The guy is a machine.
• We were told by customers that the experience costs $499.
Went 180 or so for two laps w/Mario Andretti. I didn't die, which disappoints some of you #insideindy pic.twitter.com/6asnGkxkWE
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) May 25, 2016
That was one part of my first day at Indy with Verizon, who also brought in racing retirees Rufus “Parnelli” Jones, Rick Mears and Dario Franchitti. I didn’t get to talk with Parnelli because he had to roll, but let’s just say this guy is a badass. He told others about how he never went to the hospital from racing, but had to go recently after a snowmobile crash. Parnelli is 82 and could run circles around your ass.
Franchitti, Parnelli (blue hat) & Rick Mears far right.
5 minutes with three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti talking about his speeding ticket outside Indy Motor Speedway, how the winning milk tastes & drinking at Indy bars after winning the 500.
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Rick Mears, a four-time winner talks about his life in racing.
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