Richard Snyder Photo. More photos on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/theeveningsun/photos/

I don’t want anyone to confuse me with an actual reporter, but I am a decades long race fan, with a special fondness for IndyCar. You know those aerodynamic beauties that race in the Indianapolis 500 every Memorial Day Weekend. Well, they also race all around the country and since the 2016 Labor Day weekend, they have returned to race at one of the best road race circuits in the world, Watkins Glen International Speedway in Watkins Glen, NY.
Over what is truly three very busy days of events, I at least took in the activities this past Saturday and Sunday. Besides the IndyCar race itself, known more formally as the IndyCar Grand Prix at the Glen, there were practice sessions, qualifying, and races for 6 additional racing divisions. 5 of these divisions are viewed as stepping stones to prepare some for an eventual ride with an IndyCar team, and for others, to just get into a competitive race series for the fun and thrill of it. At least as long as their budgets will allow.
Another race event added this year were the Stadium Super Trucks which was a combination of a competitive truck race with an auto thrill show thrown in for good measure. In two sections of the raceway, the trucks got themselves launched over three or four sets of ramps adding to the challenge for the drivers and giving quite a thrill to the fans. Really a great deal of fun to watch.
The Press Credentials extended to this paper by IndyCar gave me tremendous access to parts of the track that the average fan may not get access to, including being immediately behind the pit wall as the IndyCars and drivers practiced, qualified, and competed in the race itself. The access to the drivers was quite a plus to this race fan.
But this type of access wasn’t just for the press, the grandstands immediately behind the pits gave everyone the same views that I had, and probably even better. And… these teams and drivers were extremely accessible to the public. They were up close to sign autographs, answer questions, and made hundreds of fans happy with all the selfies taken. I never saw a frown on any of the drivers or crew members who were very gracious the entire weekend.
A good example of this availability was on Sunday morning in the garage area. While the track was under a slight but steady rain, many fans wandered in and around the garage area where the teams were putting the final touches on the cars that would be racing in just a few hours.
During my garage walkaround, I stopped and listened to driver Graham Rahal as he stood and answered questions in front of dozens of fans who probably could not believe he was spending time with them and not hiding in his motor home. Another was Takuma Sato, this year’s Indy 500 winner, who was doing the same while signing autographs and posing for selfies by fans who were thrilled by their good fortune. Plus, he did the same in front of the many Japanese journalists and fans, to whom he is a national hero. Even the mechanics working on the cars stopped to answer many questions asked by fans, young and old alike.
Coming back to the speedway was sort of a fun homecoming for me. During college and in several of the years that followed, many of us would head to the Glen for two big racing events each year, one in July for several sports car classes, and the second was always on the first weekend of October for the United States Grand Prix for Formula One Cars. F1 races are truly an international affair, with races throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Mexico, Canada, Australia, and even a USA stop in Austin, TX. But back in the 60’s and 70’s the US Grand Prix was held right here in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Fond memories of great times then and fond memories of a great time this past weekend.
Sprinkled among this article, and on our website, will be some of the photos that I took. But… remember that as much of an amateur I am as a writer, I’m even more of an amateur as a photographer. So, most of my photos are of the drivers and of the cars up close. The IndyCar credentials people were smart enough not to give me a photographer’s apron, where I could have gotten much closer to the track, and probably have gotten myself in places an amateur should never go.
One thing I discovered very quickly was that the drivers have a fast-simple way to get to their pits from their motor homes or garages and that is by motor scooter. So, when I was not jumping out of the way of these world class scooter drivers, I tried to get a quick photo. I know there were too many “scooter shots”, but at least you will get a glimpse of these drivers without their helmets as they came and went through the pit area.
Among these different photos will be several of Alexander Rossi and his NAPA sponsored racer. Alexander is one of several outstanding young American drivers, but he is the one who qualified the fastest on Saturday, and went on to win a very intense race on Sunday.
As a final thought, I would encourage you to attend any of the varied racing events, held throughout the year, at one of the world’s most historic speedways. Especially consider the IndyCar Grand Prix at the Glen next Labor Day weekend. Even though there are plenty of places to stay in the Watkins Glen, Elmira, and Corning area, I think being right at the track in a camper or motor home would be ideal. Especially with all the campsites and facilities available on site.
The track is a 3.5 plus mile road course with marvelous spectator vistas throughout. I suggest coming on Friday, or at least Saturday, and pick a different place to watch each of the many practice, qualifying, or race sessions. Just move around the track so when the big race starts on Sunday you will be in what you feel is be the best spot to watch the race.
And… I think you will agree that this would be a great place to close out the Summer.