As Indianapolis Motor Speedway marks it 100th year this will be my 22nd year watching the Indy 500 in front of my TV. When I got into auto racing Indy 500 have always appealed to me. Even with open wheel split I still watched it. It's always something magical or heartbreaking with the cars, speed, and drama. It's cheering on one of the drivers from favorites to underdog to witness in dismay a fine performance ruined by a crash or mechanical failure. There's too many moments during the race that made it worthwhile.
The 1989 race finish where Emerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser, Jr. battled out touching with Lil' Al in the wall while Emerson takes the checkered flag. In 1991 Rick Mears beat out Michael Andretti for his fourth Indy 500 win. In 1992 started with a very bad crash-filled race to domination of heartbreak of Michael Andretti whose engine expired with 12 to the duel between Al Unser, Jr. and Scott Goodyear which Lil' Al won. In 1994 Penske Racing with Mercedes-power dominated the field. In 1999 Kenny Brack takes victory giving A.J. Foyt, who won 4 Indy 500, his first as car owner. I will never forget 2006 of the final 4 laps which Sam Hornish picked off cars and battled Marco Andretti for the lead only to pass him on the last lap to win, the only time a race won by a last lap pass.
I spent last week watching past Indy 500s on ESPN Classic. Still get chills and excitement before, during, and after watching the past races. Indy 500, there will always be a story of triumph, success, heartbreak, and agony of defeat.
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