Synopsis: This segment is a preview made by Kevin Madden from WRTV Channel 6 in Indianapolis, and it discusses a preview before the 1987 Indianapolis 500. He takes viewers through the paddock and introduces us to a mechanic, the staff, the mayor’s dinner, and all of the festivities before the race. The race had not started, as this is a preview for the entire month of May and not just for the day of the race. Also present are feature stories about the crew who restore the winning races cars from past races, history on Tony Hulman, Tony George, and Mari Hulman George, one of the founders of the track who introduces us to some new features that would be added to the track that year before the race begins.
0:05- The first intro, narrator reads the names of the sponsors Hardee’s, True Value, Waffle House, and four Chrysler dealerships.
0:17- An Indianapolis 500 logo brings out a red flag introducing the segment as, “A Special Presentation of WRTV”
0:20- The second official, introduction, music is playing and a person is writing, making a race track, and setting the tone for the race.
02:04: The introduction fades out to a shot of the track and the jumbotron with “Opening Day at the Track, Saturday, May 1987, third intro.
02:16: Kevin Madden track story segment outside Indianapolis Motor Speedway Track Hall of Fame Museum.
03:32: Jack Martin, track museum director interview, raw footage of race cars, final laps, vintage cars sitting in museum
05:27: Madden discusses ghost car, #32, that sits in the museum, segment goes to shots of Motor Speedway, and cuts to another ghost car.
06:32: Mechanic named Bill, at museum feature segment. Photos of cars and restoration process.
09:58: Introducing the segments on race health for drivers before they take the track, proceeds into a commerical break.
10:04: commercials
12:04: commercials end
12:06: Speedway trivia guessing game segment, talks about how cars ran nonstop throughout the track in the early 1910s and 1920s.
13:20: Madden takes a test with staff at the Methodist Hospital that tests driver endurance and breathing before a race with a Methodist Hospital staff member, possibly a physical therapist.
15:19: Madden, while at Methodist Hospital, interviews Dr. Linda Ulerich, a dietitian at Methodist Hospital. She discusses how driver’s diet is important before the race.
15:59: Madden tries phase two of the test which reacts concentration times.
16:09: He then interviews Dan Maresi, an employee of the company, Motorsport Research Group. Madden tries the test and tests his consistence to react, and Maresi gives him a response.
16:55: Pace car sneak peek, skyline, and pace car driver leads up to the commercial break.
17:06: commercials
19:08: commercials end
19:09: Speedway trivia #2, Eddie Sachs driving the pace car around the IMS track in 1960.
20:57: In color, the pace car for the 1987 Indianapolis 500 segment starts. Madden discusses the car, it’s top speed, and the history of the driver who would drive that year, Carroll Shelby, a former Rolex 24 Hour driver.
21:50: Scoreboard segment discusses the 13 scoreboards across the track.
22:28: Raw footage shows a man playing golf in the track’s infield area.
22:38: Madden sets us up with a short introduction before the commercial break to his next segment about an old race car renovation and preparations for the cars before racing.
22:55: commercials
24:55: commercials end
24:56: a mascot, and the mayor gives track owner, Johnny Rutherford and Carroll Shelby a key to the city during an Indianapolis 500 banquet segment.
26:10: Opening ceremonies segment shows event queens ceremony, track officials speaking before the spectacle of the race begins, raw footage of the track before starting practice.
27:11: Madden introduces new race team who comes onto the track during practice.
27:21: Madden sits pit side, discusses how practice begins and gives a preview on which staff members at WRTV will cover the race during the race.
27:50: credits
Website clips:
This segment gives interesting information about the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
06:32 IC: (in Germany accent, some audio is hard to understand) “I was told to repair 1911 car on the speedway.”
09:57 OC: “...I plan to stay here for the rest of my life.”
Here, Madden talks about the man who is in control of the current pace car for the 1987 Indianapolis 500 who happened to race in the 24 Hour Le Mans race several years before the event, and designed vehicles. In addition the track added two new scoreboards to add to the excitement of the race.
21:19: IC: “…very capable hands race day…”
22:30: OC: “... the world’s greatest spectacle in racing.”
We learn information Eddie Sachs, a former race car driver who drove around the track in an interesting segment from the year 1960. The footage is in black and white compared to the color footage from 1987 and loves every minute of driving at the track. Sharing stories of his experience
19:17 IC: “Here we go! Out onto my fabulous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”
20:56 OC: “My whole heart, just everything I ever dreamed of, everything I’ve ever wanted is right inside of these two concrete walls.”