Indianapolis, IN
Behind the Bricks: The story behind the Speedway's not-so-fast cars
SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — Race cars are not the only four-wheeled stars at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This week’s edition of the Behind the Bricks podcast explains why, with a comprehensive look at the fleet of passenger cars, trucks, trailers, SUV’s and more that serve as the workhorses for the venue’s fast-paced events.
IMS social media specialist Zach Horrall joined WISH-TV’s Daybreak to explain the inspiration for the new podcast.
“People are driving around Indianapolis and Central Indiana all the time, and they see these IMS-branded cars, and they’re like, ‘What’s that car? Who’s driving?’ I mean, even I do it, and I work there,” he said. “I wanted to tell this story and kind of help people understand what those cars are and why they’re there.”
The show takes viewers and listeners from the Yard of Bricks to the track’s own full-time garages, where mechanics keeps everything running well and looking good, now matter what the vehicle’s future holds.
“Some of those vehicles go back into the dealerships to be sold,” said Dan Skiver, IMS senior director of event operations. “We have our own mechanics and detail people here that manage our fleet and help us keep those vehicles up to standard.”
There are also vehicles that are destined for life entirely spent at the track. One example: the jets that dry the track when it rains. They are much older than most fans would expect.
(Provided Photo/Behind the Bricks/IMS Productions)
“Some of those jet engines are 60, 70 years old,” IMS President Doug Boles said.
“We have to take care of those, make sure they run! Wouldn’t be good if they failed on a rain day,” Marc Juillerat, the track’s truck and equipment supervisor, added.
Juillerat and Boles also share a candid moment during the podcast, when Boles asks Jullierat about the difference between his past professional life working for an automotive dealership and his current gig overseeing the IMS fleet.
Juillerat answers without hesitation, “This one’s a lot more fun!”
Listen to the Behind the Bricks podcast “on the go” through the All Indiana Podcast Network.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WSBT) — We are just over a month away from one of the biggest events in racing.
Preparations are underway for the Indianapolis 500.
Street signs are being unveiled in Indianapolis, one for each of the IndyCar drivers.
Those drivers were on hand to help hang their own sign.
“It’s like the first tradition that kind of kicks off the month of May for us internally. So yeah, I’m excited. I’m excited to hit the track soon and see how the cars feel this year,” said Alex Palou, four-time IndyCar Series champion
All signs will be up by the end of the week.
The big race is Sunday, May 24th.
You can watch the 110th running over on FOX Michiana.
Trump repeals landmark EPA climate endangerment finding
President Trump’s repeal of the endangerment finding eliminates the legal basis for regulations that target air pollution from greenhouse gases.
Indianapolis and the surrounding metropolitan area failed a number of critical air pollution measures in the American Lung Association’s latest State of the Air report.
The ALA’s annual nationwide report published each spring gives the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie metro area an “F” in smog and soot pollution. The report analyzes emissions data over a three-year period from 2022 to 2024.
Smog is ground-level ozone pollution and soot is particulate matter. The two comprise two of the six commonly found air pollutants in the United States according to the EPA.
Both pollutants form in part when coal-fired power plants and diesel engines burn fossil fuels. Smog and soot can cause premature death and other serious health hazards such as heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, asthma and cognitive decline, according to the ALA.
The lung health report ranks the central Indiana metro area in a number of categories with the region performing poorly in most. Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie ranked the 11th most polluted area for year-round particle pollution and 14th for short-term particle pollution.
Indiana children at risk from air pollution
And the rest of the state fares little better.
More than 670,000 Hoosier children breath unhealthy levels of air pollution, the report says.
This year’s report focus on the risk to youth that polluted air can pose. Small lungs are particularly vulnerable, said Tiffany Nichols, ALA director of advocacy.
“Infants, children and teens have lungs that are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to the impacts of unhealthy air,” Nichols said.
To prevent today’s youth from developing diseases related to polluted air, the American Lung Association has been asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stop rolling back clean air rules put in place by previous administrations. The Indiana chapter has also asked state lawmakers to take steps to protect air quality.
Nichols grew up on the northwest side of Indy where the neighborhoods had been demolished to build I-65. Nearby trees were torn down to make way for the highway that would bring cars and trucks emitting harmful exhaust.
“So, then you have these areas that are essentially like a pocket of unhealthy air, and then those neighborhoods also had a lot of factories,” Nichols said. “That exacerbated health conditions in many of those communities that are oftentimes less fortunate already.”
Data centers and rollbacks
While air pollutants have existed for centuries, the rise of data centers poses a new threat. State and local lawmakers, Nichols said, should also pay attention to these new potential sources of pollution both in Indiana and across the country.
“We’re asking that those companies that are interested in putting data centers in communities work with the local community,” Nichols said. “Since data centers have the potential to be another source of pollution we also ask that they use renewable, zero-ignition energy sources.”
The ALA report also urges the U.S. EPA to recommit to protecting people’s health from harmful air pollution.
This year, the EPA has gone on what Administrator Lee Zeldin has characterized as a deregulation campaign that environmental advocates in Indiana have charged will lead to “death by 1,000 cuts.”
The current EPA, the American Lung Association report says, has “retreated from its public health foundation by rolling back clean air protections.”
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk or BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social.
IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Eagle Food & Beer Hall, a Southern-inspired restaurant at 310 Massachusetts Ave. in Indianapolis, is preparing for a Kentucky Derby party on May 2 and promoting a catering deal alongside its signature menu items.
The restaurant is known for its all-natural, brined and hand-dredged fried chicken, comfort-food sides, craft beer selection, scratch-made cocktails, and a blues-inspired atmosphere. It is part of Cincinnati-based Thunderdome Restaurant Group, which operates nine concepts across more than 50 locations nationwide.
Ricky Tindell, regional managing partner for Thunderdome Restaurant Group, highlighted the restaurant’s catering services and upcoming events. He said catering orders range from small gatherings to large events.
“We do a lot of catering. We do it anywhere from six people all the way up to 400,” Tindell said. He added that customers can take advantage of a promotion offering a $25 rebate on orders of $250 or more through July 4, 2026.
Tindell also described the preparation of The Eagle’s fried chicken, which is brined in-house for 24 to 36 hours, double-dredged, and pressure-fried. He said the restaurant uses a proprietary seasoning blend.
He also discussed the Mac and Cheese Burnt Ends Bowl, a popular menu item made with a five-cheese sauce, cavatappi pasta, pork burnt ends, lemon thyme ranch, crispy onions, and chives. Tindell said the dish developed from customer preferences and repeated add-ons to the restaurant’s mac and cheese.
He said the burnt ends are slow-roasted for two hours, deep-fried, and tossed in a Texas-style barbecue sauce. Portions are designed to be shareable for two to three people.
Tindell said the restaurant’s appeal in Indianapolis comes from its Southern comfort food offerings.
“It’s Southern comfort food. So people get that feeling,” Tindell said. “That’s why The Eagle is one of the top four or five reasons people recommend when asked where to eat in Indianapolis.”
He added that he personally craves the chicken if he goes a week without it.
The Kentucky Derby party is scheduled for May 2 from 11 a.m. to midnight and will feature contests, prizes, and giveaways, including a “Win the Eagle for a Year” promotion offering a $50 monthly gift card for 12 months.
The catering promotion, offering a $25 rebate on orders of $250 or more, is available through July 4, 2026.. For more information, visit eaglerestaurant.com/locations.
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