Evan West

When you’re a reporter, you’re supposed to keep fandom to yourself. Cheering (and, sadly, beer) is frowned upon in sporting-arena press boxes. There’s never a sign telling you not to; you’re just supposed to know, much the same as no sign tells you to wear pants in public. It’s okay to be breathless in your description of high sports drama, so long as the excitement is not tied to one side in the contest. And you’re not supposed to fawn over the competitors (a dictum many of ESPN’s reporters and commentators seem to have lain aside, but I digress).

Where is the missing IU student?

Most of the stars we expected to be on the Indianapolis 500 Red Carpet today were (Howie Mandel, Olivia Newton-John, Gladys Knight, et al). Some we expected weren’t (Rick Springfield).

The 500 fun should continue well into the night on Sunday, with rookie driver (and May Madness guest blogger!) Wade Cunningham and friends hosting an after-party blowout at Sensu downtown (225 S. Meridian St., 317-536-0036).

Bicycles have become a ubiquitous part of life in Indianapolis of late, and the trend is finding its way to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. May Madness reported last week that pedicabs are giving foot-weary walkers relief inside the IMS confines, and, with the Pedal and Park program, race-goers are finding bikes to be a good way to cut out parking hassles and/or long slogs from distant parking spots.

The weather folks are forecasting sweltering temps throughout race weekend, with predictions of highs in the mid to upper 90s on Sunday. Sadly, you won’t be cooling off with a Bloody Mary from Indy-based Hoosier Momma—unless you’re lucky enough to land in the cushy confines of an IMS suite.

The Indy 500 celebrity announcements are coming fast and furious now. The 500 Festival just released a complete roster of notables set to attend Saturday’s IPL 500 Festival Parade (May 26, noon, downtown).

Over the weekend, IMS announced that Howie Mandel will take on honorary PA duties at the Indy 500, which entails calling “all cars to the grid” before the race, a job once performed by the dearly departed Tom Carnegie.

May Madness just learned this evening that a handful of tickets are still available to the exclusive Andretti Wine Dinner, to be held this Thursday (May 17, 7:30 p.m.) at Mo’s A Place for Steaks.

The tickets run $125 apiece. You get a four-course meal, pairings from the Andretti Winery in Napa Valley, and a photo-op meet-and-greet with racing legend Mario Andretti.

While supplies last.

Mo’s A Place for Steaks: 47 S. Pennsylvania St., 624-0720

Last week May Madness reported that celeb chef Guy Fieri was rumored to be leading the pack of potential pace-car drivers for this year’s Indy 500, and IMS officials confirmed it with an announcement today.

Earlier this spring, listeners of NPR’s weekly Car Talk radio program got a surprise glimpse into the married lives of actress Ashley Judd and two-time Indy 500 champ Dario Franchitti.

One sure sign that May is underway in Indianapolis—dazzling, one-of-a-kind cars, often in bunches, making appearances around town.

The last time Chevrolet showcased Corvettes at the Indy 500, in 2008, the emphasis was on alternative energy, with an ethanol-fueled Z06, and history, with a special 30th-anniversary edition car. Yawn.

Imagine if you will: It’s Friday, and you’ve just finished lunch. You step outside; the sun is shining, and a gentle breeze tousles your hair. You don’t want to go back to the office, so you decide to play hooky and while away the rest of the afternoon at the track. It’s a May tradition as true as Mother’s Day.

Sadly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced today that Indy 500 mainstay Jim Nabors will not be available to sing “(Back Home Again in) Indiana” before the race this year. The conflict: a scheduled surgery for heart-valve replacement.