Another May has come and gone in the great state of Indiana and that means another Indianapolis 500 is in the books. For many reasons, the greatness that is the Indianapolis 500 makes so many Hoosiers proud of our state. Once every year Indiana has this opportunity to shine on the world's stage. If only for a short while it is great to see the world's eye on our city, our little corner of the world.
One of the greatest things for me is seeing ESPN anchors talk about our fine city. Indianapolis often takes a back seat to the larger cities in America and around the world when it comes to vacation spots and simply places of interest.
We have never hosted an Olympics, only the Pan Am Games. We now know we won't have the chance to host a Super Bowl until at least 2012. We do play host to the NCAA Final Four on a regular basis but when it comes to the world stage, few things compare to the Indy 500. To see a network such as ESPN, truly the world leader in sports, talking about the circle city, I hope it makes us all a little more proud to be Hoosiers than we normally would be.
Every May I get the feeling that Indianapolis, and indeed all of Indiana, gets to show off a little bit. We get the chance to demonstrate to the world what a great place this is. Hoosiers of all ages and backgrounds know that Indiana is a great place to live. We know that we have great entertainment, dining, shopping and more. We know how great a trip to downtown can be. During May, though, we get to sit back and watch people from around the world experience Indianapolis the same way.
The month of May means something different to an Indiana native. Anywhere else in the world, May is just the month at the beginning of summer, but in Indiana it has come to mean something else entirely. May brings to our minds images of cars, bricks, fire suits and, of course, the greatest trophy in racing, the Borg Warner trophy.
Now that June has arrived all of our lives will get back to some degree of normal but it is always fun while it lasts.
I sincerely hope that I never get to a point where I take all of this for granted. I feel I am so very fortunate to live so close to the diamond that is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I love being so close that on my back porch I can hear the roar of the cars as they fly around the two and a half miles of the Speedway at well over 200 mph. The track truly is a place like no other.
Now as another race is in the record books we get to look back on a great month and look forward to the Brickyard 400. I know that is not the official title but I guess I am just stubborn.
If you have not yet had the chance to go to the Speedway yourself, make it a point to do so. It is such a wonderful place and truly one of a kind, and what's even better is that it is in our own backyard.
Write to Alex at apcarroll@bsu.edu
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