Joe Donnelly: “I thank my good friend and colleague Senator Coats. He is truly an institution in our State. I rise with Senator Coats…”

“I thank my good friend and colleague Senator Coats. He is truly an institution in our State. I rise with Senator Coats to commemorate the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Think about that. What a long and storied history. The Indy 500 is more than a Memorial Day weekend tradition, and it is more than just a sporting event. It has a storied history, and the list of winners includes some of the most legendary drivers in motor racing history--names like Foyt, Mears, Unser, Andretti, and the legendary family who has been such good friends to our State and such good stewards of the track, the Hulman-George family. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500 are a sight to see, with its iconic 2\1/2\-mile oval and the buzzing atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of cheering fans. As my colleague and dear friend Senator Coats said, the singing of ``Back Home Again in Indiana,'' the winner drinking milk in victory lane, and raising the Borg-Warner trophy, this is defined by career-making victories as well as heartbreaking crashes and down-to-the-wire finishes. The Indy 500 is more than just the greatest spectacle in racing. It is about a whole lot more than just that. It is about bringing people and families together. More than 300,000 people will come to watch the race in the city of the speedway this weekend. It boosts local businesses and gives Central Indiana an opportunity to showcase ourselves to the rest of the world.…”