Indianapolis 500 Practice

It finally dried out here in Indy, so I took a few hours off work and went out to the speedway today. I did a few passes up and down the pits, spent most of the afternoon at the south short chute. I finally finished the last hour or so up in turn 3. What a long but fun day.

More images are available here on my blog. C&C welcome as always.

Beauties!! Every one of them!! Congrats!!

I can't wait to get to the track tomorrow and this weekend with my newly rented 70-200 f/2.8 II. I wasn't able to get photogs access so I'll be shooting most of my on-track stuff from the entrance to turn 1.

Scott Richardson from the Fairland area? Small world. Nice shots Scott

Warren

dwarrenr wrote in post #10215543
Scott Richardson from the Fairland area? Small world. Nice shots Scott

Warren

Yep! The one and only! Great to see you on here, Warren. Long-time no-see! I didn't know you were a photobug, too.

Nice captures, Scott! New to POTN here. What gear did you use on these shots?

I happen to be attending the Indy 500 this year as a spectator. Any advice on passes I might be able to get my hands on or places to go for better shots than just my seat?

Rob

updog wrote in post #10217208
Nice captures, Scott! New to POTN here. What gear did you use on these shots?

I happen to be attending the Indy 500 this year as a spectator. Any advice on passes I might be able to get my hands on or places to go for better shots than just my seat?

Rob

Thanks a lot! All shots were with both the 50D and the 7D with the lenses being the 70-200 f/2.8 IS and the 300 f/4 IS.

EDIT -> I forgot to mention that the first shot was taken with a borrowed Canon 100 f/2.8L IS macro lens. One of the other photographers there had this lens and graciously let me use it for 20 min or so. It was a great lens to use from the location where we were shooting. It's also incredibly sharp and much easier to pan than the huge 70-200; it was so light in comparison that it felt like I had no lens on at all compared to the 70-200.

As far as getting passes during race day, it's almost impossible (as far as I know). However, if you can get there any other day, you can purchase a bronze pin for around $100 or so which will get you entry into the speedway every day plus get you in to the garage.

Some of the spectator mounds in the turns give good views, but I didn't take a close look at the fence to see what kind of a pain it would be to shoot through.

I appreciate the response. I have heard really good things about that 7D. I shoot with a 50D and love it. I also have the 70-200 2.8 L IS and a 1.4 teleconverter, so shooting the event should be fine.

Also, I appreciate the additional info on the bronze pin suggestion. I had heard you can get in and out of the garages with a pass, but wasnt sure.

For the race, we are sitting in Box A, which should be exciting for the actual race. But I will probably get up and walk around a bit to get some shots of fans and hopefully cars as they race through. I have learned (shooting some NASCAR events), fences are a pain to shoot through, no matter what the condition.

Thanks again!

Respect to tha Franchitti........
Great shots all of em.....

Tom
canonific

love'um all! very nice!

very nice shots

^^what he said. Am impressed by that 100 2.8.