The Intern Files: The 2009 Brickyard 400 (Part 1 of 3)

I always look forward to the Brickyard 400. “It’s like Christmas to me,” I often stated, counting down the days, hours and minutes to the second most prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar. In the past week you have read some of my reflections and stories on the 2009 Brickyard 400. Here’s how it all went down.

FRIDAY, JULY 24th
7:00 AM- My alarm goes off and I start to put my stuff for the weekend into my car
7:45 AM- I leave my house, preparing for a two hour journey to Speedway, IN
8:15 AM- After five minutes of driving on I-74 my car begins to act up, so I must turn around and head home to pick up my dad’s car for the journey.
9:00 AM- And I’m back off again from home, headed to Indy about an hour and a half later than I figured to be.
10:40 AM- I pull off of I-65 in Indianapolis onto 30th street, heading west toward the track.
10:45 AM- I take a left turn onto Tibbs Ave and travel a mile south to West 16th Street
11:15 AM- I obtain my media pass from the administration building and begin my drive into the facility
12:05 PM- I’m set up with my camera next to the desk where Mark Martin will be talking to the media around 12:30.
12:50 PM- Mark Martin walks into the room, Kerry Tharp announces, “Mark Martin, series leader in victories.” I smiled. Mark talks with many media folks gathered around him, yours truly included.
1:10 PM- I head back to the media center to grab my stuff for practice, then head to the garage area to film and check out the cars
1:25 PM- I walk around the #5 Carquest/Kellogg’s car, snapping many photos and taking video for WCPO (Ch 9).
1:28 PM- I walk over and introduce myself to Mark Martin, my role model and hero (Read more here: http://adamniemeyer.blogspot.com/2009/07/mark-martin-im-blessed-to-have-so-many.html)
1:30 PM- I wish Mark luck for the weekend and head off to do more filming and photographing
2:00 PM- I take my spot on the fourth level of the media area, out in the open air, listening to Mark’s frequency on the scanner as the first of two practices commences
3:00 PM- The red flag flies on practice number one, I write a story in the media center and then head out to new seats to watch practice number two.
3:45 PM- I realize that I left my SD chip in my laptop in the infield and the only photo I have of Friday’s final practice is this one
4:30 PM- The red flag flies, signaling the end of practice two. Mark Martin runs the fastest lap of the day in final practice.
4:55 PM- I call my dad and discuss what occurred during the day. He asks me if I know where my hotel is. I pull it up on Google maps. He proceeds to ask me if I know where I want to go out and eat that evening. I told him I’d decide later.
5:10 PM- I’m leaving the Speedway, headed for the hotel.
6:15 PM- I make it to the Travelodge South in Indianapolis, just off of I-465. Ironically enough it’s next to the hotel where my family and I stayed in 1999 when we came up to watch the Brickyard 400.
8:00 PM- I leave to eat dinner after writing notes of what Mark said in his media visit and checking in with the Markaholics.
11:30 PM- Time to fall asleep and get ready for qualifying day at the Brickyard. Rain was moving in, but weathermen across Indy were confident it would be gone by noon.

What happened on Saturday? Stay tuned for more photos and a play-by-play of the day. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.