Ben Spies testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2008. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Being an Indianapolis native, the most exciting time of the racing year for me has become when the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix comes to town. I was looking at the calender today and noticed the race is just a month away. Last year was terrible because of the remnants of Hurricane Ike ruined the proceedings.

I’m hoping that the weather is kind this year and the race can catch the excitement again that it had going into last year’s event.

I didn’t get photos at last year’s race, but here’s one of Ben Spies during tire tests weeks prior to the race last summer.