10 great places to feel the need for speed
— -- Every Memorial Day weekend, more than 300,000 spectators crowd the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch the Indy 500. This year's race on Sunday marks the track's 100th birthday. Driver Danica Patrick, the only woman ever to win an Indy car race, spoke with Larry Olmsted for USA TODAY about the best places for speed demons.
Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolis The mother of all racetracks, this vast complex also includes a hotel, a museum, a golf course and tours that offer visitors high-speed rides with real Indy 500 drivers about 100 days annually. The month leading up to race day is full of events, even a half-marathon. "The Speedway is definitely No. 1," Patrick says. "The race is exciting, and the museum gives you a good feel for how the cars have changed over the years. They just put my 2005 car in, and we loaned them my suit and helmet." 800-822-4639, indianapolismotorspeedway.com
Long BeachCalifornia Laid out through the city rather than on a track, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is the oldest major street race in North America, held in April since 1975. For fans, there is "lots going on," Patrick says. "It's a good party, and you have the pro/celebrity race, which draws in a lot of celebrities (won this year by Keanu Reeves)." 888-827-7333, gplb.com
Richmond International RacewayRichmond, Va. A favorite of race fans, with less expensive tickets and tailgating in the parking lots. "It is a short track with huge, high grandstands," Patrick says. "You get that Southern excitement for racing, a lot of NASCAR fans, really loud." It also gets hot by mid-June, so night races are a welcome respite for fans. 866-455-7223, rir.com
Motegi Twin RingMotegi, JapanKnown as "the Indy of Japan," this track about 50 miles from Tokyo is Honda's high-tech test facility. There are two tracks and a hotel, and Twin Ring hosts the Indy Japan 300 each September — the event where Patrick made history by winning last year. "I loved going there before I won," Patrick says. "I like the food. You get sushi and sashimi and rice, very simple but very good." Besides the race, fans can enjoy a large museum and high-tech interactive attractions. www.mobilityland.co.jp/english
Honda Indy TorontoToronto "I love Canadians. They're so much fun; they're so into racing," Patrick says. "In downtown Toronto, there are so many good restaurants, bars and places to go." The route for the street race goes through downtown, making this July race logistically one of the easiest to attend, within walking distance of major hotels. For fans seeking a different perspective, the race is looking for several hundred volunteers to work in exchange for free access. 416-588-7223, hondaindytoronto.com
Infineon RacewaySonoma, Calif. This track is just 30 minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge, and you can see vineyards as you pull in. Besides the Indy Car race each August, the track hosts five other major races, including NASCAR and NHRA dragsters. "The whole package is great: the location, with Napa and Sonoma, San Francisco is nearby, and for the race, it is always beautiful and mild," Patrick says. "You can see a lot of that track, and there are a lot of places to watch the race from." 800-870-7223, infineonraceway.com
Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth Some tracks have few opportunities for passing, but the Texas Motor Speedway allows cars to run side by side, adding to the excitement. The track hosts the Bombardier Learjet 550 each June, one of the few open-wheel races held after dark. "You can see a lot of the action in the corners," Patrick says. "You don't have to get up early. As a fan, it's another good party." 817-215-8500, texasmotorspeedway.com
The Milwaukee MileMilwaukee May does not end with the Indy 500: It finishes a week later with the AJ Foyt 225 at the USA's oldest continuously operating motorsports venue, the Milwaukee Mile. The unique older track allows cars to race three or even four wide at times. "You can see all of the track from the stands, there is side-by-side racing, and there is a lot of passing going on. It's not uncommon for the leader to lap a lot of the positions," Patrick says. "There are some great bars in Milwaukee, obviously. Go catch a Brewers Game." Race Day here is two-for-one, with a 100-mile Firestone Indy Lights sprint race preceding the main event. 414-453-8277, milwaukeemile.com
Honda Grand Prix of St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg, Fla. This April race is part of the feverish run up to the Indy 500, and another fan-friendly Grand Prix-style street race in the heart of the city. "It's definitely not Monaco but gives you that feel with the boats all in the water," Patrick says. "It's a more peaceful, relaxing atmosphere, a good place to go do everything near the racing: beach, hotels, restaurants, bars, water." 727-898-4639, gpstpete.com
HomesteadMiami SpeedwayMiami "The racing in Homestead is really good," Patrick says. "There's lots of side-by-side racing, we're racing at night, and there's always a lot of passing going on." It's also the final event of the 2009 Indy Race League season, in mid-October. Unlike most Indy races, this one is part of a two-day festival, NEXTERA Energy Resources SpeedJam 2009, which includes the finales of two other leagues: Indy Lights, the minor league of Indy racing, and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Cars, the top level of racing for production cars, like those seen in showrooms nationwide. 866-409-7223, homesteadmiamispeedway.com