Auto Racing: Easy Does It

To U.S. racing drivers, just being allowed to compete in the Indianapolis 500 is like being tapped for Skull & Bones. The 500 has a special sound (the roar of 250,000 voices), a special smell (burning alcohol from the cars and frying chicken from the picnickers), a special excitement (speeds up to 195 m.p.h.) and a special danger (21 deaths in 55 years). Not to mention the special rewards consisting of the money (total purse: $628,400) and prestige that go to the winner of the world's richest auto race.

But as far as...

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