Pre-race festivities filled with memories, excitement

Bryan Herta remembers Dan Wheldon – “the little brother nobody wanted,” according to Dario Franchitti – joining then-Andretti Green Racing.

Herta was the on-track tutor for the brash but talented Indy car driver from England, but – looking back – he also learned a great deal from Wheldon.

So it was with a mix of joy and sadness, contemplation and exuberance that Herta got behind the wheel of the 2011 Indianapolis 500-winning car for a lap of the world’s most famous race course to honor the memory and legacy of his friend as hundreds of thousands of spectators donned white cardboard sunglasses in their own salute.

Wheldon, who won the 2005 and ’11 Indy 500s, died from injuries suffered in a racing accident in October.

“So many fans have been really, really great, and there are a lot of people feeling Dan’s loss,” said Herta, who shared in the electric moment in Victory Circle in 2011 as the winning team co-owner. “It’s not just our team; it’s the whole pit lane, all the fans. It’s still a difficult situation and it still feels fresh, but it’s really nice to see the continued outpouring of support for Dan and his family and everything he has done for INDYCAR.”

Susie Wheldon, who accepted the Champion of Champions ring and the "Baby Borg" trophy on behalf of her husband earlier during the weekend, watched the race from a suite.

Fieri doesn’t fret in the heat

Celebrity chef and host of the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” Guy Fieri gave three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Johnny Rutherford a hug after climbing from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Pace Car.

Sorry if Rutherford couldn't stand around to chat, but he had duties.

"That was unbelieveable; like time stood still," Fieri exclaimed. "There are so many people, so crazy and I shot out there at 115 (mph). Just outstanding."

About 24 hours earlier, Rutherford tutored Fieri on the harmony of the car and 2.5-mile oval.

“I understand why this is such a popular race, not just by the fans and the media, but by the drivers,” Fieri said. “Indianapolis just rolls out the red carpet. I've been texting my friends and emailing and tweeting and everybody. They're like, ‘What's it like?’ And I said you just can't get it.

“From television, it just gives you like one-tenth of what the experience is, and if you haven't been to a race, then you are missing it. This is a lifetime event to come to. Someone asked if it was on my bucket list to be a Pace Car driver. I said, ‘Listen, it was on my bucket list to make it to the race.’ So I don't even know what level of bucket this would be to be the Pace Car driver.

“I was nervous, I'll be very honest. I mean, it was a nerve-wracking two weeks or three weeks that I have been really thinking about it. Because I thought you just drove around and waved. The car doesn't look like it's going that fast on TV. Then I talked to a few of my buddies and they said, ‘No, no, it goes.’ "

Missing Jim

The history and heritage of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” remained, with the traditional pre-race festivities honoring U.S. military personnel on this Memorial Day weekend. But several things were different, including Jim Nabors missing from the Victory Circle platform.

Nabors, who has sung "Back Home Again in Indiana" 33 times since 1972, missed the race because of heart-valve surgery. A recording of his rendition was played.

Others of the who’s who of pre-race in case you didn’t see it on the big screens or TV:

Martina McBride - National anthem singer
Florence Henderson – “God Bless America” singer
SGT. Ron Walker – “America The Beautiful” singer
Howie Mandel - Honorary announcer
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels – Honorary starter
Flyover – Air Force Heritage Flight (2 P52 Mustangs, an A-10 Warthog and F-16 Falcon)