Day 07 The Day has Arrived

We had arranged with Jack and Linda for an early breakfast and departure as we would like to secure a good car park and find our way to our seats in plenty of time.

On the way there, we discussed whether we should turn back to get our flag and decided no.

We found a car park directly behind the grandstand we were to be in. We had a relatively small walk to the entrance gate. Hopefully at the end of the day a few more gates will be open which will allow for a quick get away.

One huge coincidence was that we had booked our tickets online some time before talking with Jack about our plans. Jack booked his tickets online, too. We expected that we would be in separate areas of the same grandstand, but not together. Couldn't believe our eyes when it turns out that we had seats side by side. They were the front row on the penthouse part of the stadium just passed the start/finish line. We faced the Repsol Honda garages ... Casey, Dani and Andrea ... WhooHooo!!!

Uh oh! Maybe we should have our flag. Clint decided to go back and get the one that we had especially brought for the race. It would be good to have it visible.

The morning sessions were the warm ups - 125cc, Moto2 and then MotoGP. Clint missed the 125s, Moto2 and the start of the MotoGP. That's not so bad. It was only warm up, after all.

With the flag duly installed we settled into watch the racing. The last few races have been on tight circuits and we have seen some amazingly close dices. We were hoping for the same. The Brickyard circuit has two long straights with a few twisty corners to make it interesting. Terol pulled out in front and stayed there to win the 125s. Corsi lead the Moto2 class until passed by Marquez who then extended his lead to the finish. Looks like the Brickyard suits the rider with the best set up and the best application of power.

There was about 50 minutes to wait for the MotoGP. We were entertained by a Red Bull Race stunt flyer - amazing skills.

Then it was time! The MotoGP bikes and riders were making their way onto the grid. Clint thought that was a good time to take my photo with the grid in the background. Just as he was taking my photo, I saw out of the corner of my eye that our flag and I were on the big screen around the ground. Can't say whether it will be part of the broadcast or whether Clint was in the shot, too.

The sound! The bikes were impressive during practice and qualifying. Hearing them all take off together was extraordinary.

The first three laps were tight racing, but again Casey got to the front and stretched his lead. It wasn't a good day for the Ducatis. Rossie ran down one of the slip roads on two separate occasions and Hayden pulled into the pits about two laps from the end. He did continue but to no real effect. Three other Ducatis dnf'd. All the Japanese bikes did fine and even the lone Suzuki made a good show.

Once Casey had crossed the finished line we untied our flag and took off for the section of the stadium directly in front of the winners podium. We made our way to the front and watched Ben, Dani and Casey receive their trophies and "get busy with the fizzie" as the local announcer was fond of saying.

The Brickyard caters for crowds of 300,000. The crowd for the MotoGP was about 80,000. That meant there were plenty of spare seats thankfully. Our seats were in the sun for the best part of the day. I would move into the shade when I felt I had had enough sun. I didn't do it enough as tonight I've got sunburnt arms.

Tonight we walked into town and had dinner with Jack and Linda in Scotty's Brewhouse. It's a sports bar and one set of TVs was showing the races that we didnt stay to watch - the Harley 1200 AMA series.

So that wraps up my birthday, it's been super long, super special and I got to spend it all with my super special man.

Clint and Jack

The Indy Control Tower

Repsol Garage right opposite us

Set up with our flag

Just before the start

They're Off

The winners "get busy with the fizzy"

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