A day at the race

We woke early after a miserable night in a hotel room next to the elevator. Every time someone used the elevator, the room shook and the accompanying noise woke us up. Fortunately it was a small hotel so not many people used the elevator in the early hours of the morning so we did get some sleep.

We had decided to go to the race track early anyway since a friend at work had arranged Pit passes for us and we wanted to explore the pit area and infield.


This is us just after we had arrived at the infield after walking through the tunnel under the race track.


Here we are in front of Juan Pablo Montoya's pit box. Montoya is a Colombian who has previously driven in Indy racing league and Formula 1. Many Spanish speaking race fans around the world follow Montoya's exploits -Patricia heading the list- but he is not so popular amongst Americans.



Even though our hearts are with Montoya, you will see we are wearing Jimmy Johnson -number 48- caps. This is for two reasons, first Graham met Jimmy Johnson on Thursday when he visited Shell and he signed Graham's cap, and secondly because we have been unable to find any Juan Pablo Montoya -number 42- caps.


This is Montoya's car being pushed out of the garage area to technical inspection. Today the 42 car is painted blue for sponsor Lysol. Normally the car is painted bright red with a big Target on the hood for then regular sponsor Target stores.

One thing we find a little strange is that we visited a Target store in Fort Worth and couldn't find any Nascar or Montoya related merchandise.


This is Kevin Harvick's -number 29- pit. Harvick is sponsored by Shell and though we don't follow him as a driver we are of course grateful to Shell for sponsoring Nascar and for paying for out pit passes.


All the cars are lined up on pit road in the order in which they will start from the qualifying timed laps on Saturday. Montoya qualified 4th.


This picture shows the banking on turn 1. We are crossing the track leaving the pit area to go to our seats.


Before the race all the drivers are introduced and they ride around the track in a pick up truck waving to the crowd. This Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy is the current Nascar champion having won the championship four years in succession. He is currently first in the championship and fighting to win a record 5th title.


Many members of the US military were in attendance at the race and appeared to have full access to to pits and the garage area and the opening ceremonies. Kudos to the Texas Motor Speedway for organizing this little reward to our troops.


Each Nascar race is preceded by a pryer for a safe race, the National Anthem and fly over by the Armed Forces timed to go inside with the end of the National Anthem.

And the race starts. 43 cars heading for turn 1 at full throttle. (Make sure the volume on your computer is turned on and at the maximum).