Remember A Year Ago Today

I awoke long before my alarm went off. Fresh off three hours of sleep, I was ready for the day ahead. Myself, along with two best friends were in Vegas celebrating my birthday, a friends graduation and the end of a great Indy Car season. My uncle and grandfather were just excited, I hadn’t seen either in four years. My grandfather use to take me to races a kid, so today was going to be a great pay back to him.

I was ready for a near perfect day. My friend;  Dan Wheldon, a friend to anyone who shook his hand or received an autograph was racing for a 5 million dollar prize in the final race of the Indy Car season. I was fortunate enough to have known Dan since 2004, but got closer with him throughout the summer of 2011 when he would come to Indy to test the new Indy Car or to make appearances.  We would head to Broad Ripple where Dan was recognized everywhere, signing autographs and posing for pictures at will. I was ready to introduce my grandfather and uncle to the defending Indianapolis 500 champion.

As we approached our seats, I explained to my uncle that Dan was the best. A two time winner of the Indy 500 and a fan favorite to everyone,  He was a favorite to my six year old brother at the time. He always made sure everyone had everything they wanted autographed. The prior August, I snapped a picture of my brother and Dan for the first time and had him autograph a picture personalized to my brother, little did I know, that autograph and picture would mean more to my brother than I ever wanted to imagine.

As the green flag flew, I had no worries in the world. I was in Vegas on vacation, had close friends and family next to me, and of course the race.  I knew it would be a wild race, all those cars, some untested drivers, and a track that had not been ran on by the Indy Car Series in a few years, I even tweeted it would be a chaotic race, but the chaos that ensued was nothing like I could have ever imagined.

I recorded the 11^Th lap on my digital camera, and for whatever reason, decided to put the camera down for a few minutes and take in the action. Everyone was still on their feet and as they cars went into turn one that chaos came to life.  I remember seeing multiple cars get air born, and it was hard to tell who it was through the smoke, fire and debris. I watched Dan’s #77 fly through the air and make contact with the catch fence. My heart sank, I had never seen anything more horrific in my entire life time of going to races.  As the rest of the field circled around, I tried to sort out who was involved in the accident.  I could see Dan’s car on the back stretch and a driver walking towards it. I had grown used to seeing horrific accidents and had also grown used to seeing drivers making full recoveries, but this felt very different.

Nothing was announced for a long time after the crash. Something awful had to have happened, as I watched the safety crew place a tarp over the cockpit of at least two cars, one of which was Dan’s. As a lifelong race fan, I knew that was a sign of nothing positive. As my phone frantically blew up, I remember following the helicopter from its launch pad over the top of the bleachers and out of sight. We waited, and waited and it became more apparent that the person in the helicopter was Dan, and the chances of him surviving were little to none.

We tried looking on Twitter and listened to the Indy Car Radio broadcast. We didn’t want to speculate until word came, the emotions where too much as I had already started to cry. I walked around the outside of the track, trying to get the better cell phone service, trying to collect myself. As I walked back to my seat, the announcement came. Dan had been taken from the Indy Car world.

The only memories I have of the tribute laps that followed were through the pictures I had snapped during it. I walked through the paddock to find a close friend who had worked with Dan in the past and told him to get home safely. As I searched for another close friend, who was even closer to Dan, I couldn’t bare it much longer and decided to leave the track.

Dan will be remembered for his determination on the track, his 2 Indy 500 triumphs, his 2005 Indy Car Series Championship and his smile and ability to turn every fan of his, into a friend. I was fortunate to have gotten a little closer with him than most, and those memories I will cherish and pass on to my kids in the future, God speed Danny boy.

Giving Thanks

I first and foremost hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and takes a moment to realize how blessed and thankful you are. I would also like to thank the troops overseas for continue to fight for all of us here in the homeland, on that note I am going to take this blog to fill you in on what I am thankful for, and how fortunate and lucky I really am.

I am most thankful for the family and friends I have. I have a supportive family that has let me chase my dream, and do it my way even if they at times did not agree on my decisions. I don’t get home that often to see them, so I make the most of it when I do. I am thankful for all my six siblings, three nephews and great parents. I am thankful for a father I can relate to, who is more than a father, but a friend. Someone that I can tell everything to, and will always be there for me not matter how bad I mess up. Also to my mother who is always there for me, and always make sure I stay safe, and to my step mom, who has pushed me and motivated me to always give me all, and not half ass it.

I am thankful for my job. Outside of the fact that I work in the sports media industry, and the fortunate opportunities I have had. I work in a building in an awesome location downtown with great people who help, support and motivate each other. I hear people complain all the time about some of the coworkers they work with, I don’t have that problem, I look forward to work every morning. I have great bosses and great colleagues, so a big Thanks goes out to all of them.

I am thankful that I was blessed with my fathers outgoing personality, the next stranger I meet will be the first. I have some of the best friends in the world, that no matter what we do we always have a good time. I am also thankful for my friendship with Dan Wheldon. For years, I was just a fan who would say hi and ask for an autograph at the track, but over the last eight months, we have became friends away from the track. I am thankful that I attended his final three Indy Car starts, and his final two wins, at Iowa in 2008 and this year’s Indy 500. I am thankful for the drinks and laughs in Broad Ripple, thankful to have watched him test the new car and the autographs for myself, my brother and father, you are truly missed Danny Boy.

I hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving, enjoy some football and food. Thanks for reading, and Go Lions!

Dan Wheldon- A Hero And A Friend To All

Anyone who had ever met Dan, more than likely had a smile on their face from the get go. He was well liked by everyone, drivers, fans, owners. How could you not like a guy who is driven to win every time out, has a charismatic smile, and that British charm?
I first met Dan in 2002 at the Chicagoland Speedway, where he was making his first ever Indy Car Series start for the Panther Racing. Ironically

enough, it was in a rest room between practice sessions. Don't worry, we both washed our hands.
In 2003, Dan signed on to drive for Andretti Green Racing, much success was to follow. Dan won the Indy Car championship in 2004 and backed that up by winning his first Indy 500 in 2005, but no matter how much success he had, he knew he wasn't above anyone. Dan would sign every autograph,literally everyone, I watched him sign a guys Jim Beam boxers once. He would take pictures and answer any and all questions, and that never stopped, which is why he is a hero and personal favorite to so many, including myself and my six year old brother, Garrett.
Garrett with two R's and two T's Dan would say to Garrett, making sure every autograph was personally signed to my little brother, and anyone else who wanted it. Garrett was stoked to head to Kentucky a few years back to see Dan again, and have him sign an Indy 500 winning picture. Unfortunately, we didn't see Dan. The last time Garrett got to see Dan was at this years Brickyard 400, where Dan was being celebrated as the winner of 100th anniversary race of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Garrett, who never takes off his 2010 National Guard autographed Dan Wheldon hat was surprised to see Dan at the Nascar event. Luckily, I knew he would be there, and told my father who brought some cars and pictures for Dan to sign. Garrett was stoked and excited to get a picture with Dan.

I got to know Dan personally a bit outside of the race track starting back last May, where randomly, we ran into each other at a local bar. I of course, being the fan I am, and having met him at the track multiple times went right up and struck a conversation. My only intention was to wish him luck at Indy and hope to see him in a full time ride. The conversations continued, and we hit it off from the get go. He was joined that night by his best friend Bayleigh, who now is a very close of mine. The night wrapped up a few hours later in the early part of the morning.
I was with a few friends who followed Indy Car, and Dan welcomed them, and anyone else walking by with open arms, that is the kind of man he was. For those of you who do not know, I call Dan, Raul when we are anywhere outside of a track, hell I even did inside. Many people that night, and few other times when we hit the town together would come up with the same question, Are you Dan Wheldon? In which I would reply, no, his name is Raul, you have the wrong guy. But of course, after the joke, we clarified it was the two time Indy 500 champ, in which Dan would pose for pictures. Dan was always joking, his favorite one to me was to point out how cute it was that I have a picture of him in his car as the background of my cell phone.
Dan went out of his way for me, my father, and my little brother to make sure we always enjoyed our time with him. Either in a bar laughing and talking racing and life, or at the track when Garrett would have 2-3 pictures, 2 cars and a hat for Dan to sign.

I was at the race in Las Vegas to celebrate the final race of the year, time with friends and to cheer Dan and few others to victory. The first ten laps were exciting and fast, but the images of what I saw in turn two will never be forgotten, as well as the helicopter flying over the track. I couldn't handle the news when I heard sitting in the bleachers at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I balled my eyes out and still find myself tearing up. We lost Dan way to young, a brilliant driver, fantastic man, tremendous father and husband, Dan Wheldon, dead at the age of 33, will always be a fan favorite.

When Being a Crazy Girlfriend Goes Wrong

IF you follow me on Twitter.. @tonyd6624 <-- Shameless plug, you have heard the jist of this story. My Phone rings at about 219 this morning, from a private number, shows up as Unknown Number. Phone Rings again at 235.. Same unknown number, at first, I was thinking, ok Its some automated thing that has its times messed up, not going to answer. Well clearly the person trying to call did not let it get to voicemail the first time she had called, so the second time around, I pick up, thinking if there is some kind of emergency, Ill feel terrible for not answering, but as soon as I say hello, this chick goes on an absolute tear of me. "I know where you are" " I cant beleive you would do this again." I respond.. umm excuse me? Who are you? Then that just trips her off more, "You know damn well who this is and I caught your ass again, I cant beleive you would cheat on me again, I got you, I used * 67 Bitch, private number" Im sorry, who are you looking for? My name is Tony not Tommy and I live in Indy. " DOnt play dumb, I know where your at, you better watch your back, Im going to send my boys over there after you." At that point, I was like, alright I got my laugh time to hang up. Same unknown number calls backs, I ignore and it goes straight to voicemail. " The Voicemail reads and she hangs up, probably realizing shes an idiot and has dialed the wrong number. Feel sorry for that Tommy Guy.

The House Has Been Built

Alright, so maybe the title is a bit corny, but it fits. Ed Carpenter, a veteran of 113 IZOD Indy Car Series races has been building for his first career win, which came in outstanding fashion today at the Kentucky Speedway. Over those 113 races, some have criticized him of not having the talent to run in the Indy Car Series, claiming he only has a ride due to family ties. Those of you who think that, are dead wrong and that was proven today, but to others, such as myself, we have known this day is long over due.

Of course, it does help to be born into, but I would put money that 98% of the drivers in any professional racing series could be charged with the same accusations. Carpenter cut his teeth in the Midwest winning his first USA Midget race in ironically Louisville. In 2003, Carpenter won the Indy Lights race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the inaugural Freedom 100. He then got his chance in the Indy Car Series.

Throughout his career, Ed has be superb on ovals, Indy, Kentucky and Chicagoland in particular. In 2006 he snagged his first top five at Chicagoland. He turned heads in 08 with a 5th place in the Indy 500. Over the next few years, Ed would run well at the Kentucky Speedway. He was on the pole for the 2010 event and had been the brides made the past two years. Today, he cashed in that pole, two runner ups and two Indy 500 Top 10's for his first career victory.

The pieces have been in place for Carpenter, also known as "The Hammer" (At least to me). You could not ask for a more perfect day. A sunny, chilly Midwestern day gave way to a Midwestern raised Butler grad to score his first victory, and honestly, it could not have happened to a better guy. I question anyone's morals who has a bad thing to say about the guy. He is who you want your son to look up after, a family man who is down to earth and does things the right way. Hats off to Ed, and I am excited for Vegas where he and another favorite of mine, Tomas Scheckter will join forces for Sarah Fisher.

Is It Better If It's Your Fault In A Car Crash?

Obviously, you never want to get into an accident, and when you do, you would think that you would not want it to be your fault, well at this point, I beg to differ. If you follow me at all via Facebook or Twitter, you know I was hit downtown a little over a month ago. The Lady ran a red light and came across three lanes of traffic on a one way street to hit me in the driver side door. To the naked eye, it looked like minimal damage. I wanted about a week for the lady who hit me to get back with me, and I still have not heard from here as she had her insurance company get a hold of me. What a nightmare it has been. I'm sure the lady who hit me has already repaired the light damage she has, and has forgotten about the entire situation, while I'm still caught up in the hell and inconvenience of her bone headiness. I finally got my car into the body shop, got my rental set it up, in which I was not paying for, but was suckered into the $70 dollar insurance out of my pocket? I mean, I guess I had to do it, my luck, at this rate I would get into another accident, so better safe than sorry. A week later, I call the body shop to see how the progress was coming along, as I only had the rental 8 days. The guy at the body shop tells me they in house had found some more damage behind the tire so It would be a few more days. OK, no worries, Friday rolls around, and the guy tells me, well we messed up something in house, it should be done Tuesday. Tuesday comes, and the car still is not fixed, claiming Triple A just approved the repair of the new damages Monday. Why wouldn't they approve them, and if they didn't, the body shop should pay for it because it was their mistake! The time table turns to, it should be done by the end of the week. Well buddy ,I have a job like most average Americans, and I need to know when it will be done so I can get my rental extended. So, I go to cash my paycheck today, and realize my balance is about 500 dollars off of what it should be. Whata know! a 455 fee from Enterprise Rent a Car. I'm pissed, and want answers. Turns out, the lady at the rental place didn't tell me that its 18 dollars a day for some BS and 10 more dollars a day because I'm under 25. Why am I even paying for anything? So they took 28 dollars a day out of my bank account, which they had the info for the 70 dollar insurance. So without me knowing, 453 dollars is gone. Fortunately, the lady at Enterprise today was helpful and waived the 10 dollar a day under 25 fee and said I would get the rest back when they got the Rental. Well I'm glad I checked it out, and I'm glad I have emergency money in my account to make sure I don't over shoot my bank account. But if your going to take 28 dollars out a day, I better damn well know it, and why your doing it. Its Friday, and instead of enjoying the week in my Sebring with the top down, I'm cruising a Camry with shitty brakes and no head room. Shake my damn head!!

Driving in Indy.

Now I problem shouldn't complain about driving in Indy when its 10x worse in bigger cities such as New York and Chicago. But what Indianapolis has that most other cities do not is a Super Bowl on the way which leads to construction on virtually every street. It changing virtually every day, one day one lanes blocked, the next a different. Construction slows everything down, especially when they think they are above the traffic and can just walk out on a four lane road and stop traffic to back up one of their trucks.

On top of the traffic, you get your normal people who don't really know how to drive. You know who they are, they want to go 35 in a 45, they turn without signaling, or pull out in front of you with no regard to anyone else on the road.

My 7 mile commute to downtown Indy every morning takes anywhere from 20-30 minutes. Mostly on one way streets that are too hard for some people to handle. Look, I know your dying to find a parking spot, but you can throw it in reverse on a one way street to back up 20 yards to that spot you blew by, sorry buddy, your going to have to take another lap around the block. On these one way streets, city buses just throw a wrench in the mix. They take two lanes to turn, pull out and stop at will, and then their are those people that get in the far right lane to turn right, but don't realize the cars that are ahead of them are parallel parked causing a parking lot on Penn.

There are many other things that drive me nuts, bikers who take up an entire lane, or shoot across the Monon on 52nd without even looking, so If I hit you for not paying attention, it's my fault and now I have a problem, or the lady who turned left onto a one way street on Red, crossed three lanes of traffic to hit me when I was going straight through a green light. Throw in the fact that school has started and school buses add to the chaos of driving to work, making me have to dive bomb to get around them, causing another kamikaze move that I have to make to avoid someone else. Maybe I should bitch, and I'm not saying I am the best driver, all I ask is for people to not do idiotic things, use a signal, and go the speed limit, Thanks!