That’s all you need to say on Memorial Day weekend. You don’t need to say the Indy 500, or “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – if you’re anywhere in the civilized world and it’s Memorial Day weekend, it’s simply “Race Day!” Winning this race changes your life. Bobby Rahal, who won 40 years ago in 1986, and so many other winners, have said that winning this race is the single biggest win that they ever had. It outpaces driving championships, Daytona, LeMans, F1 or any other motorsport event. It’s that important.
I also have to say that history is a large part of the mystic and reverence of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. People who haven’t ever seen it don’t realize that it is HUGE! In fact, it’s so large that Vatican City, the Taj Mahal, the White House, Liberty Island, Rose Bowl, Churchill Downs, the Roman Colosseum and Yankee Stadium would all fit INSIDE the racetrack, with room left over.
As we have done since the year that he was born in 1981, Andrew and I were together for the day. We listened to the race on an old transistor radio as the Speedway Radio Network is absolutely phenomenal. This year we were able to actually watch the race – leaving the TV on mute so we could continue our tradition with the radio. We have carried on this tradition the same way Dad did with me since I was born in 1953. Unfortunately, there were several years, the races of 1979, 80 and 81 when I listened alone. That was after Dad passed away and before Andrew was born.
This year’s race was somewhat emotional. Helio Castroneves was in the hunt for a 5th win, which would put him ahead of Foyt, Al Unser, Sr. and Rick Mears, who all have four. And all of those other guys are Americans which seems to be a sub-plot in this year’s race. On the 250th anniversary of the United States, most folks would like an American winner.
There is no pageantry in the motorsports world that comes close to what is displayed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The traditions abound – the flyover of military jets, helicopters following the cars around the track on the parade laps, the Purdue Marching Band, “Back Home Again in Indiana” being emotionally sung before the start; and of course, “American the Beautiful” and our National Anthem being a part of the pre-race festivities. It is truly an unbelievably emotional experience.
As usual, the race was exciting. Weather played a factor in the strategy of the teams today. On two occasions, the race was red flagged – meaning the race was stopped and restarted as the weather cleared the area. However, it was touch and go for a while. When it was all said and done, a Swede, Felix Rosenqvist, persevered and won the race over second place David Malukas – the margin of victory was .0233 seconds – less than half a car length – the narrowest margin of victory in the 110 year history of the race. These cars are so fast that they move the length of a football field in under one second…
Commentators were calling it the best race in many years. And while Rosenqvist was celebrating with his team, Malukas found it difficult to be consoled. As Jim McKay said years ago as it relates to sports – “the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat…”
Tomorrow, there will a celebratory dinner for the drivers and their teams. Checks will be handed out and then this year’s race will fade into the distance as we start to gear up for next year… when the excitement will peak again.
All the drivers wanted to win today. But only one driver comes in first. And every Christian is aware that there are accolades for running a great race in your life! The Scripture tells us that there are crowns that are presented for running a good race. Paul alludes to this several times in the Bible. Tonight’s verse, in fact, comes from one of the many books that Paul authored.
He tells his church at Corinth, and us, in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Paul makes it clear that the heavenly crown awarded for running the race is far more valuable than any earthly race, including the Indy 500. While I am thrilled for the winners of the “500” for the past 110 events, I am more thrilled for the Christian who lives a worthy life and is awarded a crown upon his/her arrival in heaven. My encouragement is that we should love God and love each other – those things please God. My prayer is that even when the going gets tough, we will keep going. Because we are not competing against each other like the drivers today. Every one of us can cross the finish line and win the race… God says so… Happy Memorial Day! Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…