Fans return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for ‘best time of the year’

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Cars are on track, the sun is shining and IndyCar fans are back inside the racing capital of the world.

”Best time of the year man,” said race fan Joey Mulinaro. “No place like it. Back home again in Indiana.”

For the fans who live within driving distance, like Todd Giesting, they don’t take it for granted.

”We’re lucky to have a place like this around here,” Giesting said.

IndyCar drivers hit the track Friday for the Sonsio Grand Prix qualifying. Fans got to watch as drivers raced to lock down the fastest lap of the IMS road course.

”This is the perfect day to bring the family out,” Mulinaro said. “Let them roam, have some fun and be able to see every crevice of this awesome place.”

For the die-hard race fans, the road course offers a change from what IMS is typically known for.

”We’re so close and it’s such a benefit to see all different types of racing here at the same speedway, just love the road course,” said longtime race fan Mike Wilhelm.

A beautiful day like Friday isn’t just about racing, it’s also great for a field trip.

”Little school from Attica, Indiana, seeing something this big, they don’t see that very often,” said one of the parent chaperones. “Just seeing the looks on their faces are real exciting.”

The students rode a bus for more than an hour to get there and are soaking up everything they can.

”I like seeing how fast they go,” one boy said.

”I like learning about history… I like learning how it was built and the Yard of Bricks,” another student added.

The Sonsio Grand Prix Saturday kicks off the best few weeks of the year, with the 109th Indianapolis 500 within sight.

”The hype is getting there, the excitement is getting there,” said Mulinaro. “You have butterflies in your belly knowing that the big day is coming and you’re just living in the moment, enjoying every second of it.”

For many longtime fans, they don’t miss a day when cars are on the track at IMS.

”This will be my 50th 500 and about my 182nd race at this race track,” said Wilhelm.

And there might be a few new fans at the greatest spectacle in racing this year, every student in the field trip group we talked to said they want to go to their first Indianapolis 500.