A Fan Side of the Indianapolis 500

EDITORS NOTE: A Fan Side of the Indianapolis 500c as told through Thomas Marquis

So it’s been so much fun covering the month of May here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Its qualifications weekend and we are under a rain delay. So I thought this was the perfect time for this story.

As you know what we always say over on the Balance Radio Show. “This is the ONE place where fanatics can come together and talk about their favorite teams. The Balance brings you an analytical breakdown of sports from a Fans point of view.”

So often we get caught up in the media side and forget our own slogan. So when I came across a “MEGA” Indy Car Fan, and not only an Indy Car Fan but the biggest Helio Castroneves fan it gave me an awesome opportunity to make slogan a reality.

I would like to introduce you to Shelby Bohmer! 

I asked Shelby to tell me about being such a huge Helio fan.

I wanted her to tell her story in her words.

 

 

A FAN’S LOVE FOR RACING: HOW ONE PLACE & ONE MAN STARTED IT ALL

Sports, they’re activities that push athletes physical, mental, & emotional abilities with a competitive spirit and a strong sense of determination. Such mindsets and abilities fuel their senses-a fuel so powerful it leads toward success in climbing the “athletic ladder.”

One sport requires one man or woman to put their trust in not just man, a team, or themselves, but also in machine, a machine in which they are the “pilot” of a full on battle of man verses machine. It’s a machine designed to make any person see that speed has no limits. These machines rage at over 200+ miles per hour, are open-wheeled, run on pure ethanol, and are ready for people to experience one of the most “thrilling rides” one’s eyes can behold.

Have I peeked your interest yet?

Keep Reading On To Hear My Story…

I, Shelby Bohmer live in the Hoosier state of Indiana. If you’re a true race fan, one would know that Indiana is home to racing’s “Grand Cathedral, the “World’s Greatest Race Course.” This is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I grew up in a family that through the generations loved racing and the biggest event ever held at that grand 2.5 mile oval of glory, the Greatest Spectacle in Racing the Indianapolis 500.

Being in a race-loving family, I often heard stories of past legends of four-time winners Al Unser Sr., Rick Mears, & A.J. Foyt, among others like Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser, and Mario Andretti. On Memorial Day weekend we’d all listen and watch both the radio and T.V. broadcast of the race. 

Knowing my family racing background, I found it was time I found out for myself what this place and racing was really all about. I was 16 years old when my step-dad took my mom and I to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a day of practice in May of 2009.

Just seeing the place from a distance gave me chills and goose bumps, or should I say “race bumps!” The sights, sounds, and smells of the place made me feel like I was in a whole other universe-which I was; I was at “The Racing Capital of the World.” Race Fans were everywhere getting pictures, autographs, and seeing all the action of those glorious speed demons we call race cars. Now I could see what everyone means by IMS changing you when you visit such a place of immense history, tradition and legacy.

Since I was starting to gain a liking in the sport, it was time to choose who I thought would be my favorite driver. I noticed that the one driver I wanted to know more about happened to be driving my favorite number three. Three has a significance knowing I was born on a “Three” on my birthday.

I asked my mom and step-dad about the man who drove the #3 car. They told me all about how he had back-to-back wins, the two years a rising-star and Brazilian won as a Rookie in 2001 (Rookie of the Year) & again in 2002, how he climbs the fence with his victories, and how he overcame adversity to be able to come back and race again when his career and life were on the line that year, this driver being Helio Castroneves. I was inspired by what he had accomplished so far in his career and what he overcame, loved his race number, and saw how good he was to his fans.

To add in a little humor, he isn’t too bad to look at either. In that moment I thought that he might just be “the one”, my favorite driver in my new favorite sport.   

It’s race day for the 93rd Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24th, 2009. I was in my living room ready to cheer Helio on as he raced with 32 other drivers looking for glory-Helio looking for win number three. The excitement and intensity built as each lap came and went, when in one BIG moment, Helio made a pass around New Zealander Scott Dixon for the lead! I was shouting and jumping up and down like crazy!

Each lap winded down until the moment came; the announcer Mike King said, “Open the Door to the 3-Time Winners Club; there’s a brand new member, and his name is Helio Castroneves!” To see his pure joy, passion, and emotions pour out that day made me realize I knew my gut instinct was right. I had chosen the right driver for me. Not only had I chosen a winner but also I had fallen in love with the man and driver who is Helio Castroneves. 

The next year following Helio’s third win at IMS in 2010, continued to grow my love for him and the sport. That year I attended IMS Pole Day to witness Helio gain his 4th Indy500 Pole (his previous 3 being in 2003, 2007, & 2009) with an average speed of 227.970mph. I also went to IMS Community Day to attend his book signing (his book entitled: ‘Victory Road: The Ride of My Life’) where I had one of my first up-close and personal moments with Helio. IMS even posted a picture of our meeting on their website.

The next year (2011) went by and so did another season now leading into the next season in 2012-the BIG year that changed EVERYTHING.

It was that time of year again, a new race season in 2012. Helio opened up the season in St. Petersburg, Florida with a win and a touching tribute to the late Dan Wheldon. The season rolled on to when racing came to town in Indianapolis for the “Month of May.”

That year was my first time to ever have a bronze badge garage pass. Walking into the paddock gave me a behind the scenes look of how the sport fully ran. I couldn’t believe how much it really took with the mechanics feverishly working to make a perfect car set up, driver’s out and about signing autographs for fans, cameras clicking for pictures, and interviews galore for the media.

Being that up close and personal with the race world got me hooked for life, as we all are a part of one big race family. That was the first year that started a now a six year tradition of getting a picture of Helio and I together at IMS and having him sign each picture.

That was also the year I noticed Helio was on social media with Facebook and Twitter, so I decided to “like” his Facebook page as well as give him a follow on Twitter to support him and follow along with the rest of his 2012 season, where him and I did a bit of interacting throughout it.

That season for Helio ended with him in 4th place in the championship. Now, what to do to help the off-season go quicker…any ideas? I had one up my sleeve, as an immediate light bulb came on inside my head. Feeling inspired by Helio’s three Indy500 wins, I wanted to make a tribute to commemorate them.

A major highlight of those seasons was in 2014. I was able to drive around the famed track on Community Day and had the ultimate experience of going to my first Indy500 in person on May 25th, 2014, the 98th Running. Helio was in the Yellow Submarine, bringing back a design that was drove by legends past, and now it was Helio’s turn.

Boy what a race it was!

He and Ryan Hunter-Reay battled it out to the end where sadly it ended just six-hundredths of a second shy of win number four. I almost witnessed history before my eyes to see Helio become the next four-time winner-gut-wrenching and heart breaking-but still proud of him knowing he gave it his all and more. A week later couldn’t be sweeter as redemption was Helio’s in gaining his 29th career win in Detroit, where years ago in 2000, “Spider-Man” was born knowing this was the race that he first climbed the fence as an act of celebrating victory. 2014 was a solid year with a 2nd place championship finish to his Penske teammate Will Power.

2015 was another solid year with Helio being 5th in the championship. 2015 was also when I joined an Helio fan group on Facebook, Helio Castroneves Fans.  There I kept record of the 2015 season, keeping fellow fans in the loop on race season stats and Helio’s appearances and special events throughout the year.

It is a place for fans to connect and get to know each other better and to show support with pictures and messages. I still take part in that group and encourage other fans to join. I felt after having a season without a win, it was time to get Helio pumped for the next season…a light bulb idea went off again in my head, the “Cheer On Helio Project.”

I proposed after the 2015 season ended in our fan group that I would take up to 100 fans to join in to send Helio messages that I put together in a video to begin his 2016 off right.

With 2016 ahead of him and the fans behind him, Helio started it off well with two pole positions, one in Long Beach and Phoenix, where in Phoenix, he became the “Speed King” with a new track record!

After Phoenix Indy came again he gained momentum with a second place finish in the GP of INDY race. He started ninth in the field of 33 that year and gained him and his team an 8th pit-stop competition where right before me, I saw his trademark victory celebration as “Spider-Man” climbed for the fans. He did so in knowing he felt the energy of the crowd raving and roaring after the win. What a sight! I know it will be one that stays with me forever. The 500 looked good until he was clipped in the back rear bumper pod of his car, but he took it with dignity and moved forward to finish his 2016 season in third place in his 17th season with Team Penske, it’s 50th year as a Team went 1-2-3, and was named by his fans in a competition Penske held as “Captain’s Finest.”

IMS thank you for being the place that brought me a spark for racing and being a place I can now call my second home, and to Helio, thank you for being the one who made my racing spark grow and become full blaze. I’m your fan for life & my love and support will be with you always! May you continue striving toward achieving your goals and beyond with a fourth 500 and championship. Stay DRIVEN BY PASSION!