The Indy Racing Experience Written By: Daniel Leavelle
Many people wonder what it’d be like to drive a real Indy Car. Luckily, since the founding of the Indy Racing Experience, you can now feel what it’s like to go 165mph, 3 inches from the ground.
So you might ask yourself, what does this have to do with roller coasters and why is it on this site. First of all, if you’re coming to this site, you’re probably an adrenaline junkie like my self. Also, being that this experience took place at the Walt Disney World Speedway might have another thing to do with it. Lastly, in an effort to expand the website further, we are branching out to other amusement related attractions.
For a brief history of the Walt Disney World Speedway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Events, Inc., a subsidiary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp., designed the track to host the Indy Racing League's Indy 200 from 1996-2000. After IRL stopped racing at the track, it had been used by various companies to offer driving and ride along experiences. In November of 2008, the Indy Racing Experience made its debut at the speedway. Since then, hundreds of customers have made their way over from the Disney World parks to see just what it’s like to feel like a professional race car driver.
RCPro was invited out to drive and ride in a real car at a real track. Since we cover pretty much anything involved in the amusement industry, this was right up our alley.
My Indy Racing Experience started out by driving to the track where I was greeted by the staff of IRE. The location of the IRE is actually combined with the Richard Petty Driving Experience for those of you that were wondering. Inside, there were random tires used by the race cars, a real stock car in the show room, and a wall of fame where celebrities and professional drivers have come out to try out either experience. Now comes the processing part. If you’re not a fan of signing paperwork, this would be a low point in the day (but a very necessary one). Who cares though because after you sign the legal documents, you know that you’re that much closer to hopping into a beast of a machine.
After processing, you will be lead outside to be fitted into all the safety gear that you will need.
Fire Suit: Check Helmet: Check Racing Shoes: Check Gloves: Check Adrenaline pumping: MEGA Check
To ensure that all drivers that day know what to expect and how to operate the cars, the IRE includes a brief tutorial on the important components of the vehicle. They will explain the procedures to starting the car, taking off, how to angle the attack on the turns, and most importantly the safety precautions to ensure that not only you are safe but the driver in front of you is as well.
Now comes the moment that I had been waiting for, time to drive.
As I did and everyone who visits the track, drivers will get the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of cars that have been race driven. My car was the 2000 Delphi G-Force that was entered in the 2000 Indianapolis 500 by Hollywood Mo Nunn Racing. Brazilian driver Felipe Giaffone qualified fourth at 230.236 mph and finished all 200 laps of the race to finish in third. During the race, this car led four different times for a total of 12 laps. To ensure that the cars are kept up to optimum condition the Indy Racing Experience also boasts crew chief and mechanic Mike Horvath, who I had the chance to meet. Mike has twice won the Indy 500 (with Juan Pablo Montoya in 2000 for Chip Ganassi Racing and with Dan Wheldon in 2005 for Andretti Green Racing). Mike has also worked with Dario Franchitti and Marco Andretti.
Sitting in the car was very snug, but that’s the way it should be. Firing it up was a dream, power on, press the ignition and the car came alive. Here I am, sitting in a car three inches off the ground and a 600+ horsepower motor behind me. Now keep in mind the engines are detuned so that they can be safely driven by guests. From there it was time to pull out on to the track where the fun really began. The car handled extremely well and was very easy to control. Turn one came around and the 10° banking slid me to the right side of the car. Down the back stretch of this 1-mile tri-oval track, I punched the gas. The acceleration was a kick as it put me back firmly into the seat. Looking ahead of me, I could see the elegant dips and turns in the track that resembled to me a well put together roller coaster ride. Going into turn two, there’s a slight hill that allows to drivers to afterward dip down to the bottom apex of the 8.5° turn. Now the g-forces are starting to build and I can feel my body getting heavier and being pushed now laterally to the right. Exiting turn two, you can push the pedal down and pick up some speed to enter the 7° banked third turn which if you take the turn at a fast enough speed will put you close to the wall. The whole experience driving was mind blowing and it took a few laps to get use to the car but with 8 laps that you’re given to drive the car, it’ll be more than plenty to get the hang of.
As I pulled into the pits, I couldn’t stop laughing. It was as I said before, simply mind blowing. I had a few minutes to catch my breath before the real treat of the day came. Not only do guests have the opportunity to drive a real car, they can be driven by a professional driver in a specially made Indy Car. Lucky for me, I had the chance to meet and ride along in the National Guard 2-seater by Arie Luyendyk, Jr., son of Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk.
The engine fired and the smell of ethanol was wafting into my nose. Ethanol has a very sweet smell that will stick in your brain for quite some time. I was still smelling the ethanol even after I had been home for a couple hours. Unlike the car I drove, this car’s engine was slightly detuned, if at all any. Since it was very cold that day, Arie Jr. took two laps to warm up the tires to the optimum pressure so that we could take the car blazing through the track. Back and fourth from side to side the car went. With much more power than the one I drove, the car threw me from left to right and back again. Anticipation building, adrenaline flowing, breathes steadily getting faster, and my mind racing, Arie hit the gas. Immediately you know what it’s like to really punch it in the faster car. Turn two came into view and I prepared myself for the g-forces. Guess I didn’t prepare enough because the turn came and I was pressed against the restraints as we were pulling about three lateral gs. Down the front stretch we went hauling at over 140mph to only brake again to get the correct angle of attack for turn one. Arie drove this car like the professional that he is, never letting up. I was surprised by the grip that the tires had on the track under the cold conditions. Arie drove like it was just another day at the track and here I am white knuckled in the back giggling like a little school girl. We’re now hauling down the back stretch and I can here the engine revving hard my head that’s firmly planted into the back of the seat.
Turn two and three come up again and here’s the most surprising moment of the entire experience, I could feel the lateral g-forces being extremely high which made the blood in my body go from the left side to the right side. I literally was feeling numb in the left side of my body as we were making the turn. The whole experience was much like when you’re on a roller coaster and you’re pulling the high vertical g-forces, except now I felt like I was trying to be thrown from the car. After one more lap around the track the time had come to go back into the pits. Just as quickly as it had begun, it was over.
I hopped out of the car to a smiling crew of the IRE. I was shaking, breath was fast paced, my hands tingling, and let’s not even begin to guess where my mind was at. If you like roller coasters and fast paced thrills, this is a MUST DO. I still to this day cannot completely comprehend what happened out there on the track. It’s calling to me even now to want to get back out there. This is an experience that will keep you wanting more and wishing you were still strapped back in those amazing cars.
I’d like to thank Jeff Smith, Arie Luyendyk Jr., and everyone at the Indy Racing Experience that I had the chance to meet. It was something that I will never forget and will do again.
Below is some important information about IRE at WDW Speedway:
• DRIVE ($399 + tax for 8 laps) - It may seem steep in price but is WELL worth it!
• RIDE ($109 + tax for 3 laps) - If anything, this is a must do. Completely unreal!
• Open daily and located just outside the gates of the Magic Kingdom
• Hit the track at 4 p.m. ET and run until dusk. Walk-ups are welcomed as well. All customers must be present by 3:30 for orientation.
For more information about the Indy Racing Experience:
• Call at 888-357-5002
• Log on to www.indyracingexperience.com
• Look on Facebook or YouTube by just typing in Indy Racing Experience
