Thursday, May 25, 2006

Memorial Day weekend No. 1 for racing

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May 28 is the biggest day of racing in 2006:

1. Indy 500. This is the largest sporting event in the world with over 400,000 fans in attendance. The first 500 mile race was held in 1911, and saw speeds averaging around 98 mph. This year Sam Hornish, Jr. set the pole position at 228.985 mph.

The 2006 Indy 500 will feature Michael Andretti racing against his son Marco, along with descendents of A.J. Foyt and Arie Luyendyk. And there's Danica Patrick, who qualified 10th out of 33 this year.

Indy 500 links:
Indy 500 home
2006 Indy 500 starting grid
History

2. Grand Prix of Monaco. Held in Monte Carlo, Monaco, this is one of Formula 1's best events. Overtaking is difficult at the historic street circuit, which earns the track low marks from drivers, but it's the perfect venue for TV fans and F1 history buffs. A few million-dollar, carbon-fiber race cars will be crunched on the first turn.

F1 home

3. Coca Cola 600. At a whopping 600 miles, this is NASCAR Nextel Cup's longest race of the season. It will take place at Lowe's Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Perhaps the most amazing thing about this race is that nearly all of the push-rod engines will last 600 miles at 9,500 RPM, running at close to 200 mph. Forty-three entries will generate more than 30,000 horsepower when the green flag drops. Highlights will include the most competitive racing on earth, and Tony Stewart will badmouth somebody before the day is done.

This race routinely goes over four hours, so pop extra popcorn and have a patch kit handy for your blow-up doll.

NASCAR home

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