Tony Borroz is attending the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 28th, 2017. This series, Bricks And Bones, explores the cultural significance, endearing legacy, and the nitty-gritty phenomenon of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Conflicting Emotions
I’m sitting in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, between here and there, between desert and farmland, between my glowering past and my immediate future. I am calm, but my mind seems to be screaming out in a thousand different directions at once. Everyone seems to be saying I should be feeling happy or excited or sad or tired or respectful or lonely, but I’m all of those things and none of them all at the same time.
At the moment I am still. Waiting through this interminable layover, waiting for my connecting flight between here and there.
Frequent Fear
My mind, and a notional team of psychiatrists would imply that, in my given emotional state outside of “work” (which this is), peace and serenity would be good goals to pursue. Instead, I am anxious to stuff myself into an alloy tube controlled by overworked, overtired, yet overpaid former-military hotshots; worked by over-glorified wait staff that seem to have no compunction these days from physically and emotionally abusing you for the slightest infractions like airborne Stassi martinets.
Powerful Prelude
I should be still . . . be still . . . be still; seek out an extended period of immobility, but right now, what I am most anxious for is speed, and lots of it. I need to wad myself into an alloy tube and be blasting through the thin air at .84 Mach. I am going to need velocity and quickness, pace, and swiftness.
I am going to The Indy 500.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Chapter 1: Real Wrong here.
Chapter 2: St. Elmo’s Fire here.
Chapter 3: The Quiet Racer here.
Chapter 4: Hang Ten here.
Chapter 5: Female Perspective here.
Chapter 6: The Fearless Spaniard here.
Cover Photo: 1915 Indianapolis 500, courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
