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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
May 17: Rob is finally on the blog (although still not at
the track...) and Bob shares more thoughts as the excitement starts
to build at Indy
Bob says:
We thought we had seen pretty much every area of Indianapolis over the last few visits here but last night we ventured into new and uncharted territory (for us at least) in the North eastern area on the outskirts of the city.
A beautiful area with many stunning houses and green fields.
I'll tell you just why in a minute but first - we saw some meaningful running at the Indy Speedway yesterday!
Action at the track
The weather dried up enough for there to be an almost uninterrupted five plus hours of available track time and the fastest from qualifying were the fastest
of the day by and large with Scott up there among them.
We met up with Scott and Dan Wheldon earlier in the day at a press conference and I have to say that are both fit, relaxed and looking forward to the race.
You can almost taste the rivalry between them.
It was good to hear all the cars getting into the groove again.
Bump day
Apparently the organisers expect four cars to be outside the thirty three available grid slots so the bump day will be a real difficult day for some drivers.
Both those trying to bump and the one being bumped. The bumpers and the bumpee.
We organised a few more filming opportunities and then checked in with the people at the media centre.
At the risk of getting repetitive, those people are so organised and efficient they should be running a small African country.
Essential supplies
On the way back to the hotel we stop for supplies like toothpaste to bring home (you just cannot get the brand I like in Auckland) Advil tablets for a friend of mine, a toothbrush (the one from the plane is dead now), proper deodorant (the original was confiscated at Auckland airport, my own fault), and oh you really do not want to know!
Then off to the north eastern part of Indy for a great BBQ evening with Barb and Jim and Colleen and Scott, some great friends we have been fortunate to meet through the Speedway visits.
A fantastic way to round off the day.
A clear day with no rain forecast for tomorrow so lets hope more track time will help the cars, teams and drivers get ready for the weekend qualifying and bump days.
PS Delayed in Auckland
On getting back to the hotel we have just heard that our intrepid colleagues travelling from Auckland to San Francisco (and then on to Indy) on NZ8 have been delayed in departure from Auckland for some four hours or so.
Doesn't do anything for their connections to get here so we could be having a problem looming.
I may have to learn how to operate a camera and sound system, so our show may end up looking a little bit like reality TV on amateur night in a strong wind with chimpanzees on the controls!
Actually, pretty much the same as when Robert Rakete is involved!
And if I know Robert he will have been sleeping through the entire delay at the airport.
Rob says:
So I'm sitting at the airport staring at a wall that says limit your time on this computer to 15 minutes - 10 of which I've spent reading Bob's excellent build up to this years Indy 500.
Alas not all has gone to plan.
Jonny heads home just as Bob arrives - and my flight should have left Auckland 5 hours ago!
Delays, delays
But a 7 hour delay means the team and I sit here in the departure lounge running out of things to say, stories to tell, and jokes to guffaw over (however my vasectomy story is proving a hit - that may possibly be more than you need to know).
My sister had offered to drop me off this afternoon at the airport, and as we were pulling up to the kerb Johnno, our cameraman, rang to say "don't rush".
So it was back home to the munchkins to say goodbye - again - a few hours later.
Pre-departure
This week has been busy with my radio job and tying up a few loose ends before heading off to the States.
Of course when not blazing Aucklands Easy-Listening music on 93.4 The Breeze (plug) I have been studiously studying the 500 driver line-up, lap times, team strategies, qualifying, and technical specs of every single car that will attempt to run in this years race.
That is for the benefit of DT, producer/director/Kia Caravan driver, who is my boss and makes a habit of reading these things.
We have entered a sweepstake competition amongst NZ8 passengers trying to guess when we will board our 10:45 pm flight.
I wrote 'July'.
I hope I don't win.
Ok better go as a young man is pacing behind me wanting to email his girfiend or surf inappropriate websites.
"Go Scott".
Like the blog? Want to see the video ------ then remember the show from Indianapolis screens Sunday May 25th within PowerBuilt Tools Motorsport from 4:30pm on TV ONE.
ONE Sport brings you all the race action plus pre and post-analysis of the Indy 500.
Be watching TV ONE, Sunday May 25 at 4:30pm
