Davidson talks all things 500 for Rotary club

Thursday, March 8, 2018
Discussing subjects as far-flung as Rick Mears, “The Bachelor” and IMS Yellow Shirts, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Historian Donald Davidson shares his knowledge of the Indianapolis 500 and beyond with the Greencastle Rotary Club Wednesday at the Inn at DePauw.
Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan

Having attended more than half of the 101 runnings of the Indianapolis 500 — all but one of them in a professional capacity — Donald Davidson isn’t often stumped by a question about “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

But one question asked Wednesday by a curious Greencastle Rotarian was a bit of a thinker for the official historian of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“In your opinion, where is the best place to watch the race?”

Davidson smiled before pointing out that his experiences at the track include a unique perspective.

He first came to the track in 1964 as a 500-obsessed young man abroad from his native England. He returned the next year and received an invitation to be a race-day commentator, a capacity he has retained since.

“Since 1965, I’ve viewed it from the same position — the broadcast booth,” Davidson said. That means Davidson has spent the last 53 races (and something like 26,000 race miles) in the same spot.

Still, his “limited” experience with raceday seating doesn’t preclude Davidson from an opinion.

“If I had my druthers, I think the upper deck in Turn One is where I would sit,” Davidson said, noting the view of the basically half of the 2.5-mile rectangular oval, including the start-finish line and perhaps more importantly the pits.

However, Davidson also pointed out many fans’ fervent belief that Turn Three is the best place to view the race.

This sidenote led an aside about four-time 500 winner Rick Mears.

Since retiring as a driver in 1992, the legendary driver has continued to work for Team Penske, serving as a spotter from a perch high atop the Turn Three grandstand.

What’s unique in Turn Three, Davidson pointed out, is there is no back entrance for the spotter’s stand.

Instead, the spotters — even a legend like “Rocket Rick” — have to walk right up through the crowd.

“When Mears takes his spot, it’s like the emperor has arrived,” Davidson said, noting that fans part before him, cheer, applaud and ask for autographs.

Even a quarter century removed from his racing career, Mears remains more famous than many of the drivers on the track and the fans let him know it.

“I found it really moving,” Davidson said of seeing a video of the spectacle. “He’s such a down-to-earth guy and they’re just worshipping him.”

More than once on Wednesday, Davidson apologized for asides like the Mears story, noting that it left time for fewer questions. However, it has been these very asides — alongside Davidson’s “selective retentive easy access memory” — that have drawn listeners to “The Talk of Gasoline Alley,” his month of May call-in radio show, since 1971.

Perhaps the best ambassador for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway aside from legends like Mears, A.J. Foyt, Al and Bobby Unser and Mario Andretti, Davidson also used his time with the Rotary Club to promote various IMS and events.

He encouraged the club members to become “Yellow Shirts” (officially called the IMS Safety Patrol) in May, promoted the two-seater rides that allow non-racers to experience circling the legendary track at 180 mph and noted the current exhibition celebrating the Unser family (with nine 500 wins and 76 starts between them) at the IMS Museum.

For the last few years, former Greencastle Mayor Mike Harmless (now the IMS Midwest engagement chairman) has had the honor of traveling with Davidson to these events promoting the 500 and its history. This spring, they are doing about 40 events around Central Indiana.

Wednesday’s appearance in Greencastle was the second stop, following a kickoff at the Speedway Public Library.

During the next 38 or so talks, there won’t be many 500-related questions that Davidson cannot expound upon.

He even had some thoughts on the recently-concluded season of “The Bachelor” featuring former 500 driver Arie Luyendyk Jr., who got engaged to one woman at the conclusion of the season before backing out and dating the runner-up.

As a qualifier for the 2006 Indy 500 (He finished 28th.) and the son of the 1990 and 1997 race winner, Luyendyk Jr. even got Davidson watching and talking about the reality TV show he had never paid much mind before this season.

Davidson openly wondered about the veracity of the show’s results, but also noted that the Dutch-born driver has never had problems with the ladies.

“Arie Jr. is probably the greatest babe magnet I’ve ever seen in my life,” Davidson said. “Some people are wolves and they pursue women. I never saw Arie Jr. do that. But he sat down and the women flocked to him.”

The 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday, May 27.

Davidson’s “The Talk of Gasoline Alley” should return to the Central Indiana airwaves at some point in early May.

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