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Bob puts in his trophy bid - Source: ONE Sport -
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May 26, 2009
Bob's blog
Woke at 07.00 this morning and turned on the TV.
The weatherman came on and told us that there was a danger of "pop up" thunderstorms and isolated heavy rain.
Ten seconds after that the TV went off with the satellite interruption sign the only thing to be seen.
I opened the curtains and the sky was as black as can be and then the heavens opened. Rain, thunder and lightning and more rain.
It is of course a public holiday here in the US today, Memorial Day, so of course it would rain. We arrived in Indy to rain, tornadoes and cold weather and it looks as if we are going to leave it the same way as we found it. Except of course that it is still 80 degrees here.
They were very fortunate to get the race away yesterday I guess as these storms have been approaching the area for days. So, the final blog from me, on the final day in the US.
If you have been reading them then they must have been of some little interest to you.
If you haven't been reading them then this sentence is totally immaterial!
(Tell TVNZ if they were OK and then Rob and me might be able to get a proper job somehow/somewhere!!)
Today is a day we reserve to stay in Indy just in case of a rain out on Sunday and then the race is run on Monday. It would be a bit of a wrong move to come all the way from home to be here for the race and then have to leave before it was actually run. So now today reverts to plan A.
DT and editor Ben are finishing making the race day pre and post highlights show that takes them three or four hours and then we try a bit of R&R for the day.
Being Memorial Day the shopping malls open later than usual but they also have the sales on. A few new threads for me perhaps today?
The time here has been interesting and fun and we hope that, through the blogs, and of course the PowerBuilt Tools Motorsport Indy Special show that we made, we have been able to transmit to you some of the flavour of the month of May.
It has been a pleasure to work with DT, editor Ben and his magic machines, Big John and his artistic camera work. It is always a pleasure to see professionals do their job.
Oh yes, and Rob as well.
What can I say about Rob? I guess most of it is better left unsaid actually. I have learned that the very word "sleep" is not actually long enough in itself to describe just what Rob does. It should be "Ssssslllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppppp"! or something like that.
Despite what I have heard his family say, he is a nice guy. To be honest he is a great guy and I can only admire the way his professionalism on screen covers up my very lack of it. There, that is what was on the piece of paper that he gave me to say. The race itself lived up to all expectations except one really.
Scott didn't win.
There were thirty-two losers and only one winner and no race anywhere in the world celebrates the winner so much and totally ignores the losers. No podium for the first three as in Formula 1.
From second down you park your car and go about your business with whatever press besieges you as you walk back to you pit, your garage or your motor home. It's a shame but you do realise you are a loser. Not a runner up. Not a celebration of "nearly", but a loser. Funny old game. Scott was one of those people.
At least he has tasted the success and celebration that winning this "Great race" has brought. He will be back and I firmly believe that he will win it again. He knows how to do it and he knows what it takes to do it.
Tonight we go to a sort of tradition that has built up over the years for the TVNZ crew here for Indy. We go to an Italian restaurant and open the envelope that contains our individual predictions for the top ten finishers for the race. All written before the event and backed up with a prize pool that is made up of the US$20 per person entry fee. In the seven years that we have been running the sweepstake here I have never won it. Shows you what an expert analyst I am. Here's hoping for a great result tonight.
To the gentlemen here at the old Residence Inn that I have been working with, bludging off, leaning on and generally pissing off for the last week or so - THANK YOU.
The pleasure has been all yours!!
Thanks again to all of you that have been casually glancing at the rubbish I have been writing and my final "Pic of the Day" is me actually sitting in DT's room, "edit central" as it is known, and slowly one finger tapping it out.
On my right you can just see the enormous trophy that I hope to win tonight in recognition of winning the sweepstake.
The trophy is currently held by editor Ben and I reckon he somehow cheated to get it!
Bob
