Carb Day '09

David and I just got home from Carb Day! Sounds like a day of gorging on pasta and bread, but Carb Day (short for Carburetion Day) is actually the final practice session before the infamous Indy 500. According to one Web site, “the name originally came from the fact that it was the final session where teams could tune their carburetors in conditions similar to those that may be encountered on race day. The name has remained despite the fact that no qualified car has used a carburetor since 1963.”

Anyway, David’s work closed the office at 9:30 a.m. and invited everyone to the track. Carb Day is a HUGE event in Indy. The weather was perfect: partly cloudy and in the 80s. Although I know nothing about IndyCar racing (nor do I really care), it was a great day just to hang out with people in the nice weather. The practice session was pretty boring, but there was a 100-mile race with other drivers that was really exciting. Here are some pictures from the day.

Helio Castraneves' car after the Pit Stop challenge

Helio Castraneves in his car after winning the Pit Stop challenge.

I don't know what this was, but it creeped me out. I'm thinking it's some kind of race mascot or something.

Don't know who this is, but considering I actually got a shot of a car while it was going around the track is pretty darn amazing. This was during the practice session.

See the girl in the orange jumpsuit in the middle? That's Danica Patrick!

Posing at the Speedway.

We saw this guy on our way to our car. He was taking one of his pet snakes for a bike ride. Weirdo. Thought this would freak my mom out. hehe

Categories: life or something like it, old married couple