Buddy Rice — American Celebrity born on January 31, 1976,

Buddy Rice is an American racecar driver. He is best known for winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 while driving for Rahal Letterman Racing, and the 2009 24 Hours of Daytona for Brumos Racing... (wikipedia)

Mile tracks put more emphasis on the driver. On the longer tracks, you can drive flat out all the way around, so it's more of an engineering exercise. On a mile, you can't run flat out. You're constantly in traffic, there's more driver involvement.
It's always a little different, racing on your hometown track. It makes it more special.
It's hard to put into words, shaking hands with the most powerful man in the world.
Between us and the writers, it was comedy hour the whole time. We could hardly get through it.
I don't think you'll understand the true repercussions of what the 500 does for you until years down the road.