INDY 500: Brazilian to Repeat History?

As I'm hoping that we'll see the exact same, steely determination of a much younger, and presumably more resilient Brazilian emulate a fellow Countryman's return to the Speedway after his Narly Accident.

Whilst I'm talking 'bout Pietro Fittipaldi, who's currently rehabbing in Indianapolis after breaking his left leg and fracturing his right ankle, amongst other injuries.

Strangely, Pietro's crash made me harken back to another Brazilian, who's crash occurred in Turn 4 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 1992 Indy 500.

As Triple Formula 1 World Champion Nelson Piquet crashed head first into the Turn 4 wall - And suffered multiple fractures to both of his legs and feet, along with suffering a concussion!

Piquet gets Crash Course in learning Indy Turns

Yet the 21yr old Grandson of Emerson Fittipaldi, Pietro arrived at Mother Speedway on Thursday, May 17th to talk to the Media, and has already set his sights on when he'll get back behind the wheel of the #19 Dale Coyne IndyCar.

Recovering Pietro Fittipaldi makes it to Indy 500, targeting Mid-Ohio return

As I'd like to think that Pietro will indeed return to IMS next year, not as a Spectator, but instead a participant, a la what Stefan Wilson endured in order to contest this year's Indy 500.

While Piquet did indeed return the following year to contest his lone Indy 500, albeit his equipment wasn't exactly top shelve, being one of the "Blown" Stock Block Buick V-6 Brigade. As Nelson, along with almost the rest of the field were overshadowed by some Duffer' named Bloody Nige' that year.

RETRO: “Mansell Mania” invades the Speedway...

Or Y'all can check out Piquet's long ago accident at Mother Speedway in the Youtube video below...

VIDEO: Nelson Piquet's 1992 Crash at Indianapolis

INDY 500: Eddie Who?

The always Outspoken, Brash Edward Cheever, Jr. (Image source: indystar.com, Photo by Kelly Wilkinson )

Pass Me Duh Potato Chips... Munch-Munch-Munch; Think Somebody's laying another Brick...!

Not sure what's worse? That I watched that race, remember the Hilarious incident at thou local Grocery Store immediately after, since I needed a Beer or Three after watching an IRL sanctioned race. Or that I'm 86% certain what Racin' Duds; Err Finery I wore on said visit...

Twenty years ago this past weekend, Y'all know that the man I Don't Call Underachiever NO More. But instead I just call him Eddie The Mouth! won his lone Indy 500 race piloting a Dallara IR08/Oldsmobile Aurora adorned in Rachel's Potato Chips livery.

Eddie Cheever Wins first Indy 500

As surely Nobody remembers that Buddy Lazier finished runner-up that year, Eh?

For which the irony for Mwah is that Eddie Duh Mouth! Was nominated for IMS Hall of Fame status previously. Whilst Buddy, whose racing resume far exceeds Cheever's hasn't garnered a peed from the IMS Museum for consideration...

As mentioned, following the race, the first I watched from my newly relocated Tomaso Manor, having moved north the previous fall. I hoofed it up to my local (QFC) grocery store resplendent in a racing T-Shirt with Code Blue on the front, with the EKG outline and a Ford/Cosworth IndyCar; Err Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) Open Wheel Racing car also in FoMoCo' Blue Oval hue.

With the white shirt's Backside blaringly emblazoned in Fire engine "Arrest Me Red" boldly touting The Heartbeat's Just Stopped! With a red Bowtie underneath the caption.

Whilst I'm fairly certain thou Ball cap of the day was my dark blue lid' with white with blue stripes Shelby GT-350 wrap-around hat!

As I stepped up to the cashier, whose name is Bob, and has gone onto etch my name into the Store's lore', now proclaiming every single time I step thru the sliding glass doors and amble towards the checkout registers, Bob bellows "Shopping with Tomaso!" but I digress...

As Bob took a look at me, and apparently noticing my racing finery said: Who Won the Race? For which I blithely replied: Eddie Cheever, to which Bob shot back Eddie Who? To which I said EXACTLY!

Trip Down Victory Lane: Eddie Cheever still Outspoken

For which I've not only cherished that memory for two decades now, since it perfectly summed up my feelings towards the Indy Racing League, which I quickly changed to Indy Retirement League; Cymbol Crash please!

Not to mention the overall Obscurity of who the winner was, since Eddie's probably more recognized for his laying Bricks Colour Commentating on ABC's Indy 500 TV Broadcasts, which this is the last; HURRAH!

But also perfectly defines that nebulously Dark, STUPID and ridiculous Era between 1996-2000 and what us 'Ol Timers will forever know sadly as The Split!

VIDEO: Eddie Cheever's Quest for Victory, 1998

As somebody pass me a Cheeseburger, since All of that talk 'bout Potato Chips makes me Hungry...

RETRO: The Final Time Lotus went Whoosh

Joe Leonard's Pole winning Lotus T-56 on display at the IMS Hall of Fame museum in 2012. The Tomaso Collection)

Since although Colin Chapman & Co. would return one final time to the Speedway, the turbines would Flame Out forever...

Fifty years ago today, the revolutionary, and now iconic? STP Day Glow orange Lotus 56 Turbines raced in anger at Indianapolis, and like their predecessor "Silent Sam," almost won the race. As I've previously scribbled 'bout these Loti' Whooshmobiles in Part 3 of my epic No Fenders Brickyard Loti tome.

Brickyard ‘Loti - Lotus Indy Cars (1968-71)

Or Y'all can start at thee beginning, and read the whole Bloody story by starting with Part 1;

Brickyard ‘Loti - Lotus Indy Cars (1963-64)

As I've got ZERO Clue if we'll be treated to another encore Parade lap demonstration run at Mother Speedway this year in honour of this Anniversary? Especially since it appears the Speedway's Honouring "Uncle Bobby's" (Unser) achievement of winning his first Indy 500 race instead...

VIDEO: 2014 Lotus 56 exhibition lap at Indianapolis

(Photo c/o No Fenders ‘Offical Photographer CARPETS')