Dan Coats: “I am on the floor with my colleague from Indiana Senator Donnelly to talk about something that is very special to the…”

“I am on the floor with my colleague from Indiana Senator Donnelly to talk about something that is very special to the State of Indiana which happens to be coming up this weekend. On Sunday, May 29, the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, the greatest spectacle in racing, will take place in the town of Speedway, IN, a small town within the confines of the borders of Indianapolis. The Indianapolis 500-mile race is the largest single-day sporting event in the world. It is almost staggering to think about this small town of Speedway, IN, hosting 350,000 fans this year. It is a logistical challenge that the city and security people have met year after year. It is something to see. Since the first race in 1911, race fans from around the world have packed the grandstands and the speedway's expansive infield to enjoy the race and take in the experience of being at one of the world's most famous motor sports events. I can't begin to describe the dimension of a 2\1/2\-mile track and the infield. There is a golf course--and a significant part of it is in the infield--that only takes up part of that infield. The 2\1/2\-mile track, with 350,000 people, is a spectacle you will not see anywhere else. For those of us who are from Indiana, the Indy 500 is a celebration of our State, and along with basketball, is what it means to be a Hoosier. Timeless traditions, like the singing of ``Back Home Again in Indiana,'' are embedded into the fabric of Hoosier culture.…”