I’ve been a fan of Motorsport for as long as I can remember: my mother has often told people that soon after I could talk, I could also recognize makes and models of most cars and go about telling anybody that would listen what kinds of cars I was seeing on the street. I’ve always been fascinated by them and even more so by watching them go at ludicrous speeds against each other.
Being an American fan of Motorsport the biggest series available to me was of course the world of NASCAR. In 1989 I happened to be watching a Winston Cup race on T.V, picked a driver at the beginning and then watched the #27 driven by Rusty Wallace win one of the six races he won that year and I was hooked; well, as hooked on dedicatedly following a sport and driver that a six-year-old can be.
I got older and my fascination with racing continued, local tracks, national series, local series, open wheel, fender cars, etc. We’ll skip the most of it and tune in to 2012. I was getting bored with NASCAR, yes it took that long and yes I’m still a fan, and I never could stay tuned all the way through the entire Indycar season so I decided to start watching Formula 1. It just so happened 2012 was the perfect year for F1 to gain a new fan.
Seven different winners in seven different races, the racing was great and the strategy kept things interesting. Not to mention that as a guy coming from the world of five hour long NASCAR races the length of Formula 1 races were a welcome change of pace. No sitting around watching guys logging laps for a few hours in the middle to make it to the finish and see what happens. It was my newfound fandom of Formula One that gave me a whole new appreciation for The Greatest Day in Motorsports. The Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, and the Coca-Cola 600. These are the races that make up The Greatest Day in Motorsports. I love this day. Where I’m from the last Sunday in May is part of a weekend that unofficially marks the start of summer. BBQ’s, trips to the beach, and more are all waiting for me but nothing makes me happier than sitting inside all day watching cars go fast.
Wake up, and you’re ready for the twists and turns along the Côte d’Azur finishing it off with some sweet champagne. Lunch time and we’re off to Indianapolis for 500 miles and a glass of milk. Then for dinner its time for the most grueling race on the Sprint Cup schedule. That’s right, 600 miles in the hometown of NASCAR at Charlotte Motor Speedway and few cheap beers to finish off the evening.
What amazing things will we see on 25 of May? Will it be a safety car-laden dogfight in the streets of Monte Carlo? Will a crafty veteran take it 500 miles for the wreath and the milk in Indianapolis or an unlikely hero? Who will survive the 600 mile war of attrition in North Carolina? Will Kurt Busch make it to the end of the 500 and the 600 as the first driver in years to attempt The Double? I don’t know the answers to these questions but I do know that I won’t be bothered one bit not seeing the light of day on a beautiful day in May.
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