Canadian Grand Prix impressions

Can anyone give me the lowdown on what it's actually like at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? I'm wondering if you can actually see much from the grandstands, or if the view is as bad as people say. For those who have been to this race before, what was your experience like? Also, once the checkered flag drops, is there any realistic chance of getting close to the drivers for an autograph or a quick photo? I’m specifically hoping to track down Michael Schumacher.

Thanks in advance!

I’ve always felt like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway offers some of the best sightlines out there; you can pretty much see almost the entire circuit from just about anywhere.
You could probably walk right up to a Schumacher-esque autograph if your old man happens to be Bernie...

Honestly, Maya, why bother chasing Schumacher’s autograph? You’re better off just grabbing a selfie with him. 😍
Look, I love Kimi, but let’s be real—his signature isn't exactly going to change my life. Now, if you were talking about snagging his racing gloves or some piece of gear? That's a different story. 😁

By the way, your best bet for actually meeting him is to land a job at one of those massive corporations that sponsors Ferrari (like Marlboro, for instance). Those companies love taking their employees and partners to races—usually straight to the VIP lounges—where the drivers hang out.
Anyway, good luck! 👋

It’s a solid idea, I guess, but it's probably a little too late for me

I hear you can actually find some pretty subpar drivers out there. Apparently, they just sit around in their little suburban cafes sipping lattes, totally oblivious. I’ll just pull up next to Albers, slam him, grab his helmet, and flip it on eBay for a quick profit. Hahahaha.

SilentDriver said:It’s a great idea, just maybe a little too late for me.

It's never too late. 😉

People working at companies like that don't even realize how lucky they actually are, though I guess for some, it’s just another Tuesday.
I knew a girl who went to a race with her company completely uninterested—she was basically like, "Why am I even here? They're just driving in circles." But after she got back, she was a total convert. Not to mention, seeing her face after she spent some time walking through the paddock and hitting up the Ferrari VIP lounge... you wouldn't believe it. 🙂

Olympus, for instance—they’re one of those companies (though I can't recall if they're still a sponsor)

Olympus,Marlboro,Martini & Rossi,Ford then that agricultural corporation,Verizon,ExxonMobil,Bridgestone,Premium Gasoline

errr, I think V-Power is Shell

Damson said:I think the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of those tracks where you can see almost everything from pretty much any vantage point.
You might just snag a Schumacher autograph if your old man happens to be Bernie...

I am totally on board with you on both counts.

There are actually two specific spots where you can catch about a third of the circuit, if not nearly half. If you opt for the standing areas, you can basically track the cars through most of the course. From one of the hills, you get a beautiful view of the back stretch leading into the finish line, and you can even peek at the section right after the chicane. Plenty of spots offer a wide view, though I’d definitely suggest bringing binoculars because otherwise, those cars look like tiny little specks zooming by. My best advice is to aim for a spot near one of the sharper turns; the standing areas there put you right on top of the action. It really pays to show up early if you want to claim a prime viewing spot. And hey, if luck is on your side, you might find a patch of shade under a big tree, which makes the whole experience a lot more pleasant.

I actually managed to squeeze myself into the grandstands once—right in the front row, no less. The view and the sheer energy there are absolutely incredible, especially when the cars scream past you at over 155 miles mph.

As for getting an autograph, you either need some serious luck or some heavy-duty connections. Back in 1996, I actually caught a photo of MS and his car right after the race finished. Of course, they were being escorted away. It's a bummer I didn't hop the fence a bit sooner, because the shots would have turned out way better.

And I should mention, once the race wraps up, you're usually free to wander out onto the track itself.

Thanks, everyone! You’ve actually given me some hope that I might finally get a decent view from the grandstands🙂. Since I've never been to a race before, any bit of info helps. I just really don't want to show up, see absolutely nothing, and end up disappointed.
As for Sumija, I'm just crossing my fingers that I'll at least be lucky enough to snap a photo of him.

gabal said:errr, I think V-Power = Shell

I haven't a clue, really. I can't quite recall what the fine print on those commercials says during the big races, but if they're pushing V-Power, wouldn't it be a given that it's Shell?

James Anderson said:And don't forget, you can take a stroll along the track after the race is over.

Are you certain? How exactly? Am I supposed to hop the fence? I don't follow, please explain... 😬

fadedorca said:Are you absolutely certain about that? I’m having a little trouble following your logic here—do you mean someone actually has to climb over the fence to make this work? I'm genuinely lost, so please walk me through it and explain... 😬

There are really just two ways to look at it:

It’s like when you decide to just hop right over the fence instead of taking the gate.
It’s kind of like when you’re standing by the entrance to a stadium, just hanging out and waiting for those gates to swing wide before you finally make your way onto the field.

We'll see. I'm heading out there again this year; it would be pretty cool to get some shots on site...

So, does that mean you can actually walk right up to the pit lane??

I actually hung out in the paddock at Indianapolis once! It wasn't even because of the team sponsors, but thanks to one of the track sponsors—some company that makes bathroom tiles, I think. I managed to snag autographs from Microsoft, Rubens Barrichello (back when he was with Ferrari), Juan Pablo Montoya, Red Bull Racing (they were with Williams back then!), and even DC Comics. The Renault crew weren't really feeling it, though; I don't think I saw them anywhere at all.

How on earth did you even get there? Walk me through it, please.

driftingorca24 said:Can anyone tell me what the vibe is like at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Can you actually see much from the standing areas? Is it really that bad? What did people who went before think? Also, any chance of grabbing an autograph or a quick photo with the drivers after the race? I'm specifically looking for Michael Schumacher.

Thanks in advance!

I actually scored an autograph from Alex Zanardi back in '94 at the Canadian Grand Prix right in the pits after the race. These days? Forget about it. No way you're getting into the pits or the paddock. Your best bet for an autograph is probably hanging out near the credentialed entrance on Thursday afternoon—that's where the drivers pass through.

Good standing spots are getting harder to find since they're turning everything into grandstands, so who knows if there's anything left. Best corner to watch? Probably Turn 4 near the end of the lap. It's a fast right-hander, just make sure you're positioned so you can see them exiting the turn.

I know getting an appointment with them is a total nightmare, but once you finally make it through the doors, nobody’s going to want to miss the chance to grab an autograph. As for finding a spot, I'm sure we'll manage to score some good seats if we look hard enough.🙂