One of the annual festivities I look forward to each May is Community Day at the track, where race fans and the Indianapolis folks alike visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, garages, and with the drivers. They get a taste of the race, the environment where it all goes down, and it’s a great field trip for students as the school year winds down.
It’s a special opportunity for fans to get one-on-one interaction with drivers, as well as autographs. And, it’s important to expose the sport to kids at a young age. They are the future…
I specifically remember being a part of it in the fourth and fifth grades. We arrived in a bus and toured the Hall of Fame Museum, garages and walked around much of the facility. Being an avid sports fan, I not only enjoyed but looked forward to attending the event.
[Paul George to deliver green flag with Riley patient at Indianapolis 500]
This year, IndyCar decided to shake it up a bit. Instead of getting kids to the track, the drivers went to them.
The 33 drivers, one day after traveling all over the country for media hits, visited the Fitness Farm on West 44th Street. There, the drivers engaged with over 9,000 Indianapolis Public Schools students from 42 schools and engaged in a number of health and wellness events.
“Community Day is a wonderful time to generate excitement for the Indianapolis 500 and this year’s edition is unique,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. “To be able to introduce our starting field to thousands of Indianapolis Public School students is a great opportunity, and I think by the end of the day we’ll have a few thousand new race fans.”
Although the weather wasn’t great and it was a bit chilly, it looked to be a successful afternoon at the Fitness Farm. And for many of the kids, lasting memories with professional athletes were created.
Media day with the drivers is on Thursday and Carb Day, including a concert by O.A.R. is Friday.
@IMS Community Day with all the #Indy500 drivers pic.twitter.com/wfvWo1KE2K
— Byrd Racing (@ByrdRacing) May 20, 2015
All of our #Indy500 drivers are at the IPS #megafieldday here's @justin_wilson @scottdixon9 and @josefnewgarden! pic.twitter.com/QAWB6SSaOp
— Indy Motor Speedway (@IMS) May 20, 2015
.@h3lio @simonpagenaud and the world's largest tennis racket at Field Day for Indy Public Schools #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/dB145CnVBW
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) May 20, 2015
.@TonyKanaan working hard to beat @TakumaSatoRacer @IMS Community Day and @racewithinsulin isn't helping. #teamwork pic.twitter.com/EqO1ABkK6s
— CGR IndyCar (@CGRindycar) May 20, 2015
We're at IPS Field Day with our #Indy500 drivers. Check out @h3lio and @simonpagenaud teaching tennis! pic.twitter.com/tYQ53AVnRK
— IndyCar Series (@IndyCar) May 20, 2015