I’m sitting here in front of the TV as I write this blog on my laptop. Never done that before! I’m watching the Indianapolis 500. Never done that before either! But when I turned on the TV this morning with my second cuppa tea and they were interviewing Danica Patrick (currently running 11th in the race—which is real good), I got hooked. Plus that, it’s the 100th anniversary of the race which is cool. And to pull me in even further, Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle) sang “Back Home Again In Indiana” in his opera voice.
But the thing that really grabbed me was the starting words of the race. The TV announcer had been talking all along about the “greatest words in racing” or perhaps it was the “best known words in all of sports” and of course I’m thinking what you’re all probably thinking. And then it’s time to start the race, and a woman steps up to the mike and says, “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!” And, I swear, tears welled up in my eyes. I was so expecting to hear, “Gentlemen, start your engines.” What a thrill! (Now at lap 45, Danica has now moved up to in 9th place…)
And, as you race fans already know, you can keep watching the action even when there is a commercial because the “side-by-side” split screen allows you to watch the race on the left side and ignore the commercial on the right. (Just kidding advertisers!) I see now that this is only applicable when the race is under the “green” flag. Right now, it’s under the “yellow flag,” when no one can pass and the laps don’t count, and the commercial is full screen.) And I love it that the whole race is sponsored by GoDaddy.com. That’s so 21st century!
Breaking news: “Danica Patrick is on the move,” say the announcers. She’s now in 7th place! I realize by the time you read this, the race will be over and all of this will be old news. But I can’t wait to blog till later because the Fiddle Sisters (with Lynn Morris) are thowing me a birthday party this afternoon and I think there might be wine involved! (Danica now in 5th…)
And I realize that this has nothing to do with banjo playing, but so it goes. And I suppose I could draw a moral, but I’ve got to get back to watching the race with both eyes. I’ll at least close with a bluegrass racing song (not “Molly and Tenbrooks”). “I’m going to the races, to see my pony run, and if I win any greenbacks, we’re sure gonna have some fun!”
P.S. – Wanted to also note that there were two other women in the race—Sarah Fisher and Milka Duno—and last year (2008) was the first year that all three participated.