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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 19: Bob checks out the action going on in the skies
over Indy and Rob keeps his eye on "Bump" day on the track
Bob says:
Funny the things you see at a race meeting.
Even funnier things at the Indy 500.
Strange sights in the air at Indy
Today was the Indianapolis Armed Forces Day and we were treated to a fly past of F16s and much military pomp and ceremony and to cap it all a bevy of military helicopters arrived including a Blackhawk, a fully kitted out Apache attack "bird" and the largest helicopter in the US military fleet (or so the pilot said) an M553.
These things are intimidating and the Apache with all its rocket launchers, guns and other bits of very mean looking stuff would be a very scary thing to meet in a dark alley at night.
The 553 looks as if it could lift the South Island if it tried.
I did ask lots of intelligent questions of the pilot to do with engine thrust, lift capability, armament systems, type of armour and all that sort of stuff but apparently the answers are pretty much all "classified", but he did say it very nicely and vowed that he would come to New Zealand's aid should we really be in trouble with some invader or other.
I did tell him that the worst problem we probably had at the moment was some obscure moth or an invader of beehives or disgusting snot in the rivers and he smiled and walked away.
Still, nice to know he and his very smart buddies are on the other end of the phone if it all turns to poo some day.
When they left for the night the pilots put on a brief display and that involved this huge lump of metal standing on its nose when it took off.
People in the garage area were actually screaming thinking it was crashing on take off.
Very impressive.
Bump day begins
As well as Armed Forces day it is also "bump" day today and there are four drivers trying to get on to the back of the grid by bumping the slowest drivers already on the grid for the 500.
All very dramatic to be honest and although it takes all day it really got going in the last hour, from 5 to 6 pm, when the drivers took their last attempt at getting into, or staying in, the "Great Race".
It was a very intensive hour that built up to a climax in the very last seconds when Mario Dominguez crashed heavily on his last gasp attempt to stay in the race when he was ahead on speed and would have made the last row on the grid.
Very sad for him and his team.
Rob keeps hanging about around pitlane in his driving suit hoping that somebody will offer him a ride. I think the only ride he will get today is back to the hotel and that is debatable!
The photo of the day today is not very well taken but I just could not resist it.
Well, I thought it looked funny anyway.
Bob
Rob says:
The day started ominously - my morning wake up call didn't happen.
I awoke casually glancing at the clock to see I was running late.
After a hearty breakfast of toast and scrambled egg-like substance we were at the track.
The real work begins
I did my first proper piece to camera which involves walking and talking: a skill I have mastered after 19 years in television.
After that Ben (our editor) and I sat in the Indy Media Centre editing together my intv with Kiwi Tony Cotman who will be in charge of the rulebook come raceday.
In order for us to edit quietly we had to share his lil bud headphones...one in each ear...which was kinda cosy...two grown men...huddled together...perving at a laptop screen...nodding occasionally.
The action gets Bumped up
Bump Day began with Marty Roth looking vulnerable and he was bumped off the grid by AJ Foyt, then Marty came back knocking Buddy Lazier out of the race.
Mario Dominguez had a crack at Roger Yusakawa who was nervously waiting to see if he'd be having an early shower.
Which he eventually did. Then Buddy came back and knocked out Dominguez who had one last crack at staying in the game.
Bob mentioned the crash and poor Mario was off to the hospital.
Scott sighting
I saw Scott Dixon sitting on the wall trackside but decided not interrupt him as he was staring intently at his car and probably thinking "gee I hope I win on Sunday so that Powerbuilt Tools Motorsport get the moneyshot of me holding the trophy and the winners quart of milk." (it's an Indy tradition)
That would certainly cap of what has been a great weekend so far!
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
