Through a Child's Eyes

I didn't want to do it.  I get so sick of the hateful speech that goes on around forums about that uncomfortable era.  And yet, I also feel like a lot of fans forget that young fans like me had a perspective then, too.  The idea for this post originated when I read a blog post by respected blogger, George Phillips at Oilpressure.com on The Lost Years of the Indianapolis 500.  As I read, while in complete agreement, I saw the need for a post on these years from my perspective and how the 500 brought us to our present state.

The first 500 I ever watched was in '98.  I was a seven-year-old and just getting into open-wheel racing.  At that time, though, I was much more concerned about the Coca Cola 600 that would be on that night.  Also, watching a race back then meant that I also was probably messing around with legos or tinker toys at the same time and paying minimal attention.  Needless to say, all I remember is that Eddie Cheever won.  The 1999 race was different; I was excited.  Still more of a Nascar fan than an open wheel one, the selling point for this race was that Tony Stewart was doing double duty that day.  He finished 9th and 3 laps down in the 500 and 4th in the Coke 600.  In 2000, the nearly unthinkable happened: Chip Ganassi's team qualified two cars for the 500.  I didn't have a grasp for what that meant when I was a kid.  Instead, I was excited that my favorite CART driver at that time was going to be racing: Juan Montoya.  Not only did he race, he won.  Needless to say, I was happy.  2001 was Helio Castroneves first 500 victory and the first time he climbed the fence.

By 2002, though, something was up.  Penske was racing in the IRL.  What???  I'd ask my dad questions because he understood the political climate of open-wheel racing.  I think he honestly always preferred CART over IRL, but at the core, he was a race fan and would watch whatever went fast.  One of my many questions was, "Why did they leave?  They missed the 500, didn't they?"  Yes, that was it.  People could tell you otherwise, but the 500 is the the real deal.  It's... the 500 (duh).  I had it figured out as an eleven-year-old.  The power and lure of the speedway did it.  By 2004, most of the CART powerhouse teams were back at the speedway.  I would watch races and think to myself, "this kinda looks like the old CART."  After that, the rest is history.

To this day, I fail to see how adult people cannot see or comprehend what I did as a child.  I wasn't and still am not that intelligent about IndyCar racing when compared to a lot of fans.  My technical knowledge is all but non-existent and my memory is limited by my years.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to sort this out and maybe, that's why I could see.  A child looks at things simply, sees them as they are, and responds simply.  Perhaps that is what we need.  The future of Indycar Nation are young adults like me.  On forums, I see many of us crying for our predecessors to let go.  I've even tried that!  It doesn't work.  And yet, the child-like perspective sees to the heart of the matter and looks in wonder.  As I go forward and continue to grow-up, I hope I take in each and every race with the wonder of a child and see through the ever-present dissension with the clarity of a child's eyes.

______________________________

Playlist for this post:

1.  Ordinary (Rock Version)- Train

2.  Handlebars- Flobots

3.  Bad Romance- Lady Gaga

4.  Lips of an Angel- Hinder

5.  Indy 500 practice

It's May!!!

And 18 days after it begins,  I finally get excited.  Granted, I only had finals and my jury (ask if you want more info) before the semester was over, but it's hit me.  Really hit me.  I have never been this excited about the Indy 500 before.  The first one I ever watched was in '98 so it's not like I'm exactly new at this.  There's something in the air this year that has me and a lot of other fans buzzing.  And I like it.  To be honest, we have a lot to be excited about: car count is up, we have new blood among the powers that be, and some storylines are forming.  It's great!

What really gives me the buzz, though, is reading firsthand accounts from people that are there.  I take in every word knowing that someday, I have to go to a 500.  Until that day, I'll just have to get my fill of IndyCars at Iowa which I realize cannot in any way, shape, or form compare to IMS.  Anyway, I'm ready to see the potential that this year's race has and celebrate its journey and culmination on race day.

Common Sense

While perusing the IndyCar Nation fan forums, I came across one of the dime a dozen posts that the point is something like this, "The IRL is dying and not listening to fans.  Ovals are what we need.  This is an all oval series" and continues on, usually spiraling downward into the depths of incoherence.  The one I read tonight was so different.  And finally, something in me snapped- and I replied.  As I typed, I realized I had to be careful because a forum is not the place for a rant, a blog is!

My answer to the complainers and their rants (that I would never direct at anyone specifically because it's too rude):
1.  SHUT UP!  After several topics of similar content every two months or so, nobody pays attention anymore.  Deal with it.  Also, people are less likely to agree with you.
2.  Know your facts.  If you're set on posting, express your ideas and facts with proper grammar.  Misusing words while putting emphasis on them by typing in caps hurts your credibility.  There's an edit button for a reason.  By demonstrating your knowledge, people have a reason to seriously consider your position.
3.  COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PAST DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM!  Direct quote of what I said on the forum:

Let it go. Focus on the future, but respect the past. Fans that can't let their fascination with the past go hinder the growth of the future. Focusing on making this series something unique that drivers from all over the world should be the goal. Please, let the younger and new fans enjoy the direction this series is going without tainting it with bitterness... it's getting tiresome.

Ever heard of common sense?  Remember what worked and use it.  Seriously, people.

'Tis the gift to be simple

I had the pleasure of hanging out with many people I hadn't seen in awhile this weekend.  I got to spend some quality time with one person, especially, and my encounter with her made me think.  A lot.  You see, she got me a Christmas present and well, since I'm in college and she's back at high school, we don't see each other often.  As a result, she hadn't been able to give it to me yet.  Yeah, you're dying to know what is was, right?  Okay, probably not.  Anyway, it was a framed photograph of us from this fall with foam letters on the top of the frame that spelled "Lover" because that is our silly term of endearment for each other.  The thing I learned from this is that the simplest gifts are often the best.  No more heart and soul could have gone into that than any elaborate gift.  Instead, it was just awesomeness.
So here's what I'm thinking...  friendship isn't about all the loud declarations of adoration or taking a bajillion pictures.  No, it's about the quiet moments of silence where words don't need to be said, just spending time together and staying that way no matter how far apart you may be.

Will It Really Be a New Beginning?

So... Sao Paulo race weekend is next weekend.  At this point, I (along with all of you) should be jumping for joy because we'll actually have something to talk about after spending months grasping at straws of conversational topics.  There's one hitch in this scenario:  I'm not jumping for joy.  It's not because I don't have the energy.  On the contrary, I rarely lack it.  No, dear readers, a legitimate reason exists.  As one who follows multiple racing blogs, hangs around on the IndyCar Nation forum, and keeps up with the twittersphere, I have kept tabs over the off-season.  Here's my list of reasons to not be excited:

1.  Graham Rahal doesn't have a ride.  Before I get cyber rotten tomatoes thrown at me for mentioning this again, hear me out.  As a fan, I'm incredibly disappointed that he doesn't have a ride.  However, I refuse to jump on the bandwagon that blames teams for not picking him up.  He did have an offer and decided it wasn't in his best interests.  As much as I'd like to see him race, he knows his situation and the climate of the IICS better than we do.  Remember, he's on the inside and we're not.  Also, I won't join in with the crowd that deems him the savior of the IICS.  He's not.  I will, however, contend that he is the future because he is young and feasibly has a long racing career in front of him.  At this point, I reside in the "let's wait and see what will happen" camp.

Now, for the most pronounced reason.  2.  Fans won't let this be a new season.  What, you may ask me? Have you lost your mind, Catie?  That post-tonal analysis (music theory concept that I'm NOT a fan of) must be impairing your reasoning skills!  Well, not quite.  Here's the thing: season predictions are made and complaint after complaint about how things were last year surface.  You know, the usual, "red cars will dominate again" and "it'll be between two teams again."  To be honest, that's a terrible outlook. I don't care whether or not it's true; it's still terrible.  Yes, with spec cars, everything is likely to be a repeat performance.  If that's how you think, you might as well call this IICS 2009, part 2.  Well, it's not. We have new drivers, different rides, many personnel changes, and while the overall outcome might not look too different, a whole new set up possibilities awaits.  Consider all the positive announcements that were made over the off-season.  Fresh faces are becoming involved in the series, whether as drivers or leadership.  Changes like that are exciting.  In spite of that, the way fans talk, the IICS is dead and we may as well give up hope that we'll ever be something special.  The real problem is that the IndyCar Nation is a very skeptical core fan base.  It's knowledgeable in the history of the sport and understands the role politics between owners and the sanctioning body has played in changing the course of the sport.  

It's time to let each season grow to its best potential without piling the ghosts of past seasons on it.  2010 is its own season.  Sure, the past has its influence and should.  I can't say this well, but a quote from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" does.  In a bit of advice given to Toula by her brother, Nick, he says, "Don't let the past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become."  We have a rich history that should be celebrated (and usually is quite eloquently by George Philips at Oilpressure) and keep things in perspective (with a lot of help and humor courtesy of Roy Hobbson at The Silent Pagoda).  At the same time, we need to let the future be itself.  The past will continue to be a part of the IICS, but it needs to grow and change too.  That's where the fans come in.  We tend to hold on to the past so much that we hinder the progress of the future.  So cut it out, will ya?

Silence!

So, apparently the Silent Pagoda is getting flack from criticizing the DeltaWing.  With all due respect to its creators, Hobbson makes a point, albeit a humorous and rather fantastical point.  In typical fashion, Hobbson poked fun at the personalities of the IICS using the medium of the DeltaWing design that all but invites a bit of humor.  Do your sense of humor and the Silent Pagoda a favor and leave a comment on the most recent entry.  You can do so HERE!