5001 miles in one day (estimated)

Today's ride on The Rambling train will start in Monte Carlo, Monaco then across the Atlantic Ocean to Indianapolis, Indiana & then travel south to Charlotte, North Carolina all in one day.

This is one day of the year that I don't mind watching racing ALL DAY!

We start the morning off going through the tunnels of Monte Carlo, Monaco in a Formula 1 car in the one of the coolest F1 races of the year. (The Grand Prix of Monte Carlo.)

Then over 4568 miles we travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing", for the Indy 500. Where 33 drivers will be competing to have their face embroiled upon the Borg-Warner Trophy.

Who will be the first one to cross the most famous yard of bricks under the checkered flag??? Who will get to take part of the Indy 500 most renowned traditions and take a sip of what is probably the best tasting milk they ever tasted? (The picture linked is of last year's winner, Scott Dixon.)

Will it be the favorite female driver, Danica Patrick or the young 2nd generation driver, Graham Rahal, or will Helio Castroneves be giving Team owner Richard Penske his record breaking 15th win & doing his trademark victory fence climb celebration???

Only time will tell. (Since I was distracted before I could finish this blog, the race has completed... but I will not spoil it for you.)

But wait, that's not all... that's not the last trophy to be given away today... Onto Charlotte, NC we go for the LONGEST race in the Nascar season.

433 miles south east of the Brickyard is where Ryan Newman will lead 42 other Nascar Sprint Cup Drivers to the start of the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway... if it's not rained out that is! So far it looks like the track is surronded by rain. Hopefully they'll go into "hurry up" mode & start the race early!!

You know that I am pulling to see another trademark victory celebration... Carl Edwards doing a back flip off his car!!

It's a (tv) marathon of approximately 1262 miles (162 miles in Monaco; 500 at Indy; & 600 in Charlotte.) of racing in one day... and.. I'm enjoying each & every 678 laps! (78 laps in Monaco, 200 in Indy & 400 in Charlotte.)

Have a save & Happy Memorial Day!

All images found on Google. (Except the last one... it's from my usual, Glitter-Graphics.com)

"Here Kitty Kitty Kitty".... (7-29-07)

With 16 laps to go, Tony Stewart is trailing Kevin Harvick & is heard on his radio saying "Here Kitty Kitty Kitty" (referring to Harvick... I think Tony's crew chief mentioned Kevin was "nervous as a cat"... I think... maybe it was just the race announcers!)

With about 30 laps Tony gave us another good bit of audio... To his crew chief, Greg "Zippy" Zipadeli... he asked, "Do you want a pillow. You looked quite relaxed up there."

Tony ended up taking the lead with about 10 laps to go & didn't look back!!

Not only that... at one point he was driving about 200 mph with his KNEES!! Albeit was only for a couple seconds as he grabbed his water bottle to get a drink... AND the in car camera was on him at the time!

Tony, later on Nascar Victory Lane, said, "I was thirsty!"

The unofficial results will show that my hubby's favorite driver, Matt Kenseth placed 10th.

This is Tony's 2nd win at his home track of Indianapolis (yes, same place as the Indy 500!)

I had a feeling about Tony for today's race! So much I had him on my roster in the Yahoo Fantasy game!!

As you know by the previous post, I'm a Carl Edwards fan (who placed 18th today), however Tony is in my top 5... mainly because he has my favorite number... 20!! (Which I just found out this was the 20th race of the season!)

Here's another fact for you... If Tony goes on to win the Championship, it would be the 7th time the winner of the Brickyard 400 goes on to win the Cup! (Tony did it in 2005 & current point leader, Jeff Gordon has done it a couple times, too!)

Juan Pablo Montoya, who won the Indy 500 and several F1 races, ended up racing to 2nd! (And I did NOT even THINK to put him on my Yahoo Fantasy team! ARGH!! Hubby thought of it, but went with someone else instead... so we're both "kicking" ourselves over it!)

Oh, Harvick ended up in 7th. Also, right after Tony passed him, his radio chatter was aired & he was yelling... Tight! Getting way to tight! (no sure if exact quote!)

Another notable about the race is that Jeff Green had the 1st accident, AGAIN!!! Right after it, I posed the question in Yahoo Answers if anyone remembers him being in one race this year where he has NOT spun or wrecked. So far no one has said he did. (Update, I guess he's had a couple good races this year.)

Jimmy Johnson was involved in a scary fiery wreck... well, it was actually a blown tire... which was caused by damage from an earlier accident he was in. In an interview, he did say it was the 1st time he had fire in the car... & the reporter had mentioned she could see his eye brows were singed.

(Source: All the driver links are to Nascar.com's site for that particular driver.)

P.S. Tomorrow, I will have a (easy) favor to ask...
hope you'll be able to help!!

Good night!!