We bring the car out to pit road and stage it at the ready for the race start. Everything is checked and double checked. Nobody says much, there is allot of tension in the air at this point, we are ready to go racing and now we have to wait for the “Gentlemen – start your engines” command, we are all on pins and needles.
Our driver shows up in his fireproof uniform and carrying his helmet, it is almost time to get in the car. The National Anthem is played, the command to fire them up is given and we are heading out for the pace lap. It’s show time! Everybody heads back to pit wall, taking a personal inventory. “Is there anything I have forgotten?” The crew Chief makes one last round of all the guys making sure everybody did what he ask them to do to get the car ready. We test the radio, everything is working well. The pace car brings the huge string of cars down for a pace lap for the fans, the crowd stands and gives their approval of the sight. Then the pace brings them around one more time and drops off onto pit road, the green flag waves, “GREEN ! GREEN ! GREEN !” says the radio man to the driver, the cars roar off into the first corner like a huge snake making that beautiful sound of over 40 V-8 power plants going as hard and fast as they can.
