For the 2008 Indianapolis 500 we will be bringing you all the latest news and thoughts from our dynamic pair of journeymen in the field Robert Rakete and Bob McMurray.
We are with them as they travel from New Zealand across to Indianapolis to make the ONE Sport Indianapolis 500 Preview show for screening on May 25 from 4:30pm within Powerbuilt Tools Motorsport on TV ONE.
From May 16 there will be daily reports but check out the site from May 12 for the one or two special reports and new this year also our special photo of the day for you all.
Bob McMurray says
The most exciting 500 in years.
The most meaningful "bump day" in years.
More new names in one year than for may years.
Ten rookie drivers.
Three previous winners.
Three women drivers.
Drivers from 11 countries at the last count with more to come. The USA with nine, Brazil seven, UK with four, Australia with two, Venezuela with two, then one each from New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, Canada, Japan and Italy.
A New Zealand driver with a real chance of winning the worlds biggest single day sporting event at the worlds biggest sporting stadium.
This is what the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 promises.
And quite frankly, I cannot wait to get there and try and transmit the feeling and the atmosphere and the smell of Gasoline Alley to to you.
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to witness the race this year and even more fortunate to be able to take part in what we hope will be the best "500" programme ever. (I had better spell that "program" to start assimilating myself).
The last couple of weeks have been very busy with making travel arrangements and the like and then having to change them all to accommodate getting to the Indy area earlier than originally planned so that we may attend the "rookie" test for Jonny Reid as he gets in a Firestone Indy Lights series car to, hopefully, race at the FIL race, the Freedom 100, on the Friday of the Indy 500 weekend.
Another great reason to be going up there.
As with all things there is the odd drawback to it all.
And I do mean ODD.
In this case it is my co-presenter Robert Rakete.
I hope I do not have to witness, and be embarrassed by, Mr Rakete signing autographs while dressed in his pit lane fire proof suit (supplied by Chicane Clothing this year incidentally) and acting as a famous racing driver named Roberto Rakatini.
I guess he is harmless enough though and very good fun to work with. Not too shabby at his job either!
We will try and bring a daily update blog to be published on the TVNZ site (under "motorsport") and also a new innovation called the PIC OF THE DAY! Or some other name not yet invented.
Basically a photo of something that attracts our attention and it will not necessarily be motor racing or lardies or big boobs or turkey legs, corndogs, fast cars, fast women, drivers or anything else that we can plan before we go.
Just well, something. Don't know what until we get there.
Getting there is a bit of a mission as well with a flight from Auckland to San Francisco, then to Denver then to Indianapolis arriving at about midnight then straight to the track early in the morning.
One thing I do have to say is that we are all looking forward to meeting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway people again.
They are the friendliest and most efficient bunch of people you could hope to meet.
For many years in Formula 1 I kept the press and media at arms length and frankly dissuaded them from even entering the hallowed turf of the McLaren garage.
In the last few years I have come to appreciate just how hard it is to be a "media" person.
The people that run the media side of the IMS operation make the Formula 1 media operation look like border guards in a communist country.
Nothing is too much trouble and they all make the whole frantic experience of story gathering and reporting as easy as possible.
Add to them the people from the Indy Racing League who understand just what series promotion really should be like and the combination is perfect.
We look forward to seeing them all.
If anybody has any questions to ask about Indy then send me an e-mail bmcmurray@a1nzl.com and I will do my best to answer them.
Not promising and only if I can but I will try and look at my e-mails regularly.
Regards,
Bob
Robert Rakete says
"Gee that Bob McMurray can go on, and on, but he's right!
This is without a doubt one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year.Yes I know the Olympics are coming (here on ONE Sport) but the only 'flame' you'll see at the Indianapolis 500 will be under a jumbo turkey leg - and they don't need protection from 6ft tall 'Chinese volunteers'?!
This is my third trip to the '500 and it is truly a privilege to be involved in Powerbuilt Tools Motorsport's exclusive coverage of the lead up to the race and the big day itself. I was saying to Bob recently that my first trip was simply overwhelming. The sight of the concrete and steel motor speedway rising up out of the ground was inspiring. For racing fans this is like Gracelands for Elvis lovers, or the Louvre for art aficionado's, or Showgirls for lovers of dance.
I'll never forget when I first heard the scream of an IRL car as it punched through turn one and made its way down the straight. I was in my allocated position in the van (more about that later) and I frantically wound down the window - it was motorsport heaven! The track is huge! The infield has room for a golf course, museum, grandstands, conference area, stage, media centre, the famous pagoda tower - oh and Gasoline Alley along with a few cars.
We leave Auckland this Friday 16th and 20 hours later arrive in
Indianapolis. As Bob mentioned it's a real tiki-tour but the good
news is that DT (our producer/director/driver) and Bob (riding
shotgun) will be there to greet us with a powhiri at the
airport.
There is a certain protocol when it comes to 'riding in the van'.
The Kia Caravan People Mover has DT and Bob in front, where they
argue like a married couple about where to go and where to park. I
usually position myself in the middle row, on the left behind the
driver, where I can be found sleeping. Behind me sits Ivan our
production manager and alongside him John our cameraman. This year
we are joined by Ben our editor - we have yet to figure out his
spot but I don't mind cos I'll be sleeping.
It's what I do - that as well as, according to Bob, 'standing in
front of the camera looking pretty'. Bob is great fun to work with
and knows so much about the game. I like to think of him as the
'Gandalf' of our epic quest - tall, wise, and of grey hair. That
would make me Frodo - short, confused, and of hairy feet.
We have new black and grey Chicane flameproofs to wear trackside. Shane Drake and the team have done a fantastic job - in fact they look so sharp Bob McMurray might even be mistaken for a driver!
So here's what I'm looking forward to at the Indy 500 in '08:
Hanging with Jonny Reid. He is a very cool guy!
The club sandwich from 'Indy's' - the little cafe across the road from the hotel.
Carb Day - it's Mardi Gras meets alcohol meets topless women meets motorsport! What more do you need?!
Slipping on our Chicane flameproofs - they come in handy when you wanna get through the 400,000 people at the track on race day.
Watching Bob and DT hassle each other in the Kia Caravan.
On our last night in Indy we always go to Buca di Beppo - for the best Italian food ever. The restaurant is laid out like a maze! Making your way back to your table from the men's room can be difficult - even worse after a coupla' wines!
Learning about wine from our expert Ivan.
Watching Scott Dixon win the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500."
More soon,
Rob
