Last week I spent my weekend at Circuit of the Americas for the inagural Indycar race complete with paddock pass. Glad I got the paddock pass the day tickets went on sale as it was quickly sold out. It's my first race since 2017 being at Texas Motor Speedway for wild Indycar night race.
Got to the track early Friday morning to checking out Indycar Village featuring promotional booths, vendors, and shop tent. Firestone booth showing off their tires along Mario Andretti 50 years in racing (you can step behind and pose with your head), and promotional Dallara car. Pick up few items at Penske Racing trailer and Indycar shop tent.
Autograph signing at noon split into two groups. I got in line hour and half before it took place after talking to a fan on the way to track who was at the first race of the season (St. Petersburg) mention the lines were long and was the few lucky ones who got in before the cutting line. The group I chose feature Penske drivers Will Power, Josef Newgarden, and Simon Pagenaud along with two of Andretti Racing drivers Zach Veach and Marco Andretti, AJ Foyt drivers Tony Kanaan and Matheus Leist, Carlin drivers Max Chilton and Patricio O'Ward who is making his first race of the season, Kyle Kaiser, and Spencer Pigot. Caught of photo of defending series champion Scott Dixon chatting up with Power and Pagenaud. Paugenaud would have his lunch (he didn't like it) and having fun with Newgarden. Speaking of Newgarden he would take off his shirt for a fan.
I got Veach, Kanaan, Newgarden, Pagenaud, and Power sign diecast cars. Chilton signed a personal photo I took of him at Texas Motor Speedway and gave me one of his promotional cards. Marco, Leist, Patricio, and Pigot sign on their promo cards.
Made my way to the main grandstand which is a good near mile walk on other side of the track.
I saw Indy Lights qualifying for race 1 then Indycar practice at 2 PM. Colton Herta didn't take part after blowing engine in the morning. Friday are good time to get pictures of race cars due to fewer amount of fans in the stands and moving around freely. Got a good zoom on the camera to get these shots.
After practice I ventured out to the paddock for first all weekend. If you are a race fan going for full weekend I suggest spurging on a paddock pass. Indycar is great being up close and personal watching mechanics popping in and out of the trailers tuning up the cars. You have drivers and owners being out in various places. I saw 3-time CART Indycar champion Bobby Rahal and got his autograph. I got also car owner Dale Coyne sign on 1991 All World Indy Racing card. You see cars from the main and support series. For that weekend it was Indy Lights, Stadium Super Trucks, and Madza MX-5 Cup. There be teams offering promotional driver cards which I picked up.
I ended first day complete with a pit walk posing in front of AJ Foyt's famed no. 14
Great shots! I missed the race but I saw some of qualifying. Looked like fun.
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