Indy 500 & JMMC’s Just Bet Rally

Yesterday (Sunday)  was a good day!

I know very little about the Indycar series at present, but I do know that the Indy 500 is considered to be one of those races which has a Superbowl-type appeal. The 2011 Indy 500 had much more significance, because it was the 100th running of the great American race.

Rookie driver, JR Hilderbrand, was poised to drive into American motorsports history as he led the Indy 500 and took the white flag for the final lap. The ecstatic crowd of approximately 250,000 cheered wildly as he blasted through Turns 1,2 and 3. Approaching Turn 4, he encountered lap traffic and instead of following the car into the Turn, he decided to move high to make the pass.

For the next ten years, on a nightly basis, he will arise from a horrifying dream, screaming louder than any of the Honda motors in the series! As Hilderbrand moved up the track, his race car, possibly inspired by uncaring ‘marbles’, decided to engage the wall in a romantic embrace.

As Hilderbrand’s machine slid along the wall, 2005 winner Dan Wheldon kept his ‘will not lift’ attitude and rocketed by to claim victory. Contrasting scenes dominated the proceedings briefly. A distraught, devastated, deflated Hilderbrand could only shake his head in disbelief, while a highly emotional Dan Wheldon tried to, but did not succeed in restraining himself. Tears rarely signify joy, but at the 2011 Indy 500, Dan Wheldon’s tears flowed freely as he spoke about his mom, while celebrating an unexpected victory.  A spectacular climax to a great race. Click link below.

2011 Indy 500 Crazy Finish JR Hildebrand crashes in the final turn Dan Wheldon wins!

JMMC’s Just Bet Rally

Before my appointment with the Indy 500, I passed through Mandeville. I had reason to visit one of my favourite towns for 2 reasons. I had to meet with Niel Timoll to talk to him about his AE86 and I had planned to pass through JMMC’s Just Bet/ Advance Performance/ Petcom Rally.

The rally had a rather small competitor list, but I made the most of the situation. I spoke to several of my friends and watched Alan Chen drift through two turns on the New Green road – his left hand in the air – hailing his friends on the hillside! Exhibition stuff!

Alan Chen’s AE86.

As I said at the beginning, yesterday (Sunday) was a good day!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer