Indy 500 Lap
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: East Central Illinois
Indy 500 Lap
I've always wanted to cruise around the Indy 500 track in my Corvette and I finally had the chance a couple weekends ago when Bridgestone Tire had a US Grand Prix Preview Party. Those who wished to could enter the party via a complete lap around the US Grand Prix road course, a part of which is the Indy oval. Only thing is, the direction of travel is opposite of the 500 race track, right hand turns instead of lefts. But still... I was on the track and I couldn't keep from smilling.
Max speed allowed for us was 30 m.p.h. Looks like I was taking it easy here.
I stopped directly on the yard of bricks and had my wife snap this photo from our Corvette.
Looking down the main straight and pit row.
Some of the US Grand Prix Grid Girls... thought you guys would enjoy this one!
Max speed allowed for us was 30 m.p.h. Looks like I was taking it easy here.
I stopped directly on the yard of bricks and had my wife snap this photo from our Corvette.
Looking down the main straight and pit row.
Some of the US Grand Prix Grid Girls... thought you guys would enjoy this one!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Goodyear AZ
I'm definitely jealous! I would take a lap around ANY track if allowed in the vert! 
I did get to drive an '05 vette at Phoenix Intl Raceway when the GM Auto Show in Motion was here and I got up to about 130 in a straight-away on the road course (the lap started out going the wrong way through turns 1 and 2 on the main track), but it's still more fun to drive your own car, even if you are restricted on the speed.
I did get to drive an '05 vette at Phoenix Intl Raceway when the GM Auto Show in Motion was here and I got up to about 130 in a straight-away on the road course (the lap started out going the wrong way through turns 1 and 2 on the main track), but it's still more fun to drive your own car, even if you are restricted on the speed.
Last edited by intmd8r; Jul 4, 2006 at 04:11 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 0
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Have done this several times with the CCCC (Circle City Corvette Club) I belong to in Indy. We had the opportunity to do the same thing on Opening Day at the track this year when GM & NCM had 90 Corvettes on the track in celebration of the 90th running of the Indy 500 and the Corvette being a big part of the race as the pace car.
If you get America's Sports Car from the National Corvette Musuem the current edition has a half page spread showing the cars on the track for the event.
Mine is the Spiral Gray convertible in the center of big picture and also the prominent car in the insert picture.
I have been asked by club members for my autograph and my Sharpie is running low. HAHA.
Every year our club is invited to drive celebrities in the 500 Festival parade and my car was in Vette Vues magazine last year when there were a number of pictures taken of it prior to having the opportunity to drive Debrah Norville from Inside Edition during the parade.
The things this car has given me the opportunity to participate and do.
Hope you had a great time on your lap.
If you get America's Sports Car from the National Corvette Musuem the current edition has a half page spread showing the cars on the track for the event.
Mine is the Spiral Gray convertible in the center of big picture and also the prominent car in the insert picture.
I have been asked by club members for my autograph and my Sharpie is running low. HAHA.
Every year our club is invited to drive celebrities in the 500 Festival parade and my car was in Vette Vues magazine last year when there were a number of pictures taken of it prior to having the opportunity to drive Debrah Norville from Inside Edition during the parade.
The things this car has given me the opportunity to participate and do.
Hope you had a great time on your lap.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
That is soooo F'n COOL!
I've been going to the Indy500 for 21 years, and I have taken the tour around the track in the bus many times - but never in my car. I would pay to do it!
I've been going to the Indy500 for 21 years, and I have taken the tour around the track in the bus many times - but never in my car. I would pay to do it!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 0
From: South Glastonbury CT
St. Jude Donor '06
I too was one of the corvettes that did parade laps at Limerock prior to the ALMS series race. I was able to get up to 60 in 5th gear going into the S curves. IT was awesome. I was able to do it on the first lap. After that, the pace car caught up with the back of the pack. From then on went about 40 max. Turns out 75 cars got the opportunity to do parade laps instead of just 50. It was a great day! Seeing & hearing those cars was frikin awesome.
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Advanced
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin
I have driven my last two cars around the 2.5 mile oval prior to the Indy 500 on Community Day. It was my '96 Intrepid in 2003 (still in college) and my '04 Grand Prix GTP in 2004 (now out of college). Now that I have my Vette, I will need to get down there a few days before the 500 again so I can take it out on the greatest race course in the world.
BTW, this year's Indy 500 was the greatest I've ever been to. Some say it was the greatest Indy 500 ever.
This year's USGP was also good, but nothing can come to the start of the Indy 500.
BTW, this year's Indy 500 was the greatest I've ever been to. Some say it was the greatest Indy 500 ever.
This year's USGP was also good, but nothing can come to the start of the Indy 500.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: East Central Illinois
Yes, I did get over 20 mph and all the way to 30 mph most of the drive. Speed wasn't what it was about for me though, as much as I'd given anything to open it up and see what it could do. Just having the chance to drive the track was thrill enough that day and I'm very thankful for the chance and more than willing to follow the rules.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,372
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by WickedQuik
Have done this several times with the CCCC (Circle City Corvette Club) I belong to in Indy. We had the opportunity to do the same thing on Opening Day at the track this year when GM & NCM had 90 Corvettes on the track in celebration of the 90th running of the Indy 500 and the Corvette being a big part of the race as the pace car.
If you get America's Sports Car from the National Corvette Musuem the current edition has a half page spread showing the cars on the track for the event.
Mine is the Spiral Gray convertible in the center of big picture and also the prominent car in the insert picture.
I have been asked by club members for my autograph and my Sharpie is running low. HAHA.
Every year our club is invited to drive celebrities in the 500 Festival parade and my car was in Vette Vues magazine last year when there were a number of pictures taken of it prior to having the opportunity to drive Debrah Norville from Inside Edition during the parade.
The things this car has given me the opportunity to participate and do.
Hope you had a great time on your lap.
If you get America's Sports Car from the National Corvette Musuem the current edition has a half page spread showing the cars on the track for the event.
Mine is the Spiral Gray convertible in the center of big picture and also the prominent car in the insert picture.
I have been asked by club members for my autograph and my Sharpie is running low. HAHA.
Every year our club is invited to drive celebrities in the 500 Festival parade and my car was in Vette Vues magazine last year when there were a number of pictures taken of it prior to having the opportunity to drive Debrah Norville from Inside Edition during the parade.
The things this car has given me the opportunity to participate and do.
Hope you had a great time on your lap.
