The 500-Mile Race, is an American car event, held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. The event lends its name to the IndyCar class of formula, or open-wheel, race cars that have competed in it.

The event, billed as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing", is in its 92nd running this weeekend.

Justin says:

Unlike any other race in the world the Indianapolis 500 involves almost a month of preparation.

There are two weekends of qualifying followed by another week in which the cars and drivers make only a one-hour appearance on the track.

On a track like this with speeds so high you need a month to work it out. Hopefully, we can get close to some of the regular teams and get close to their pace. It's going to be interesting. We're trying to learn exactly what all that means.

There will be a lot of pressure and that's just something you have to deal with Fortunately, you've got a few attempts at it. Instead of getting just one attempt you get three per day.

My team (Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing) has extensive experience at the Speedway dating back to before the Indy Racing League originated. It helps that we're able to race with some of that previous information. It definitely is an advantage but the car is different than it was then.

I've been here for the Grand Prix before and that never seemed quite right, to be in a place like this and not really getting to experience the track. Now I've got to experience going the right direction and having fun out there.

The corners are so fast. The car releases out of the corners onto the straights and you just enjoy sitting on the straights and looking down to either Turn 1 or Turn 3 and remembering some of those images I've seen.

Just replaying the '93 race: That is the first time I remember seeing the race, when Nigel Mansell came over and raced. We actually got the "500" televised in the UK. I remember watching those cars go down the straights and trying to overtake, and it's pretty cool to finally get to drive on that track. It's not an easy place.

This is a completely different place from when I ran in Formula One here. Someone told me it was like four quick corners on a road course and that is what I have found. The car goes where you point it, whereas on some of the other ovals that is not the case.

It's a really cool feeling when the car releases out of the corner and onto the straight. Looking at Turn 1 is pretty cool. You just head down there and all you can see is the wall, and just when you start to panic the corner opens up and you turn in and the car flows so well. It's a real pleasure.

We started out with the ROP (Rookie Orientation Program) with more downforce and got comfortable and learned the track.

As we go on we start to trim the car out and that's when it gets difficult. The car starts to move around (on the straights) and you have plenty of time to think abut the next corner. You can psych yourself up or you can psych yourself out. It depends on what happens.

You get there and your foot is either planted on the floor or it starts to quiver and you lift off.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

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