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May 6, 2008

The other race in Indy

AP/Photo

Race driver Danica Patrick prepares to practice today for the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. –– For a key demographic in the heartland this election year, how about NASCAR kids?

At lunchtime on Election Day a boisterous 3rd grade class was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, far from its studies at Winchester Elementary School in Perry township outside the city.

Instead, they marched behind the stands overlooking Gasoline Alley and chanted in solidarity for the first lady of American racing. No, not Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House.

Rather the multi-racial field trip group chanted, “Danica! Danica!” for the leading woman in an equally urgent drama hereabouts: race car driver Danica Patrick in the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500.

The big race is not until May 25, but the pre-race festival is in full swing. Checkered flags adorn the yards in surrounding neighborhoods, with banners declaring “Welcome, race fans.”

Hundreds of carloads of fans rolled onto the infield parking lots to take in the practice day laps, which yesterday featured rookies but today brought big shots like Patrick to the Yard of Bricks.

As for the kids on field trips, one group from another school in another outlying town, was able to answer a tour guide’s challenge to name all of the females who competed in the Indy 500 before the redoubtable Patrick.

-- John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 2:29 PM | Permalink

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