Running 100: My raceday at 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 — May 29, 2016

I never take my unusual professional life for granted. Special days remind me that I am truly fortunate to live my dreams, despite the challenges I encounter daily. Working with brilliant, competitive individuals in a high-performance industry powered by a commitment to excellence, is what keeps me motivated and optimistic. I truly believe our expanded RACER team in Irvine and Indianapolis can accomplish things that others might view as impossible. Racing is rightly viewed as a sports-entertainment business, but it is also an inspiration business. With that thought in mind, one special day lives forever in my memory, and inspires me to this day... Nine years ago, I had the idea of creating a short film using my trusty iPhone to capture some of my experiences on the day of the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. I wanted to share moments leading to the start of the race, and the post-race press conference with the race winner. This was a day I'd dreamed of since childhood. It was also an honor for Pfanner Communications to be chosen by former Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Joie Chitwood in 2006-2007 to create the original plan for the Centennial Era of IMS that culminated with the 100th Running of the Indy 500 on May 29, 2016. It was a race for the ages with a surprise winner in rookie Alexander Rossi, who executed a brilliant race strategy called by my friend Bryan Herta. I first met Bryan when Jeremy Shaw and I selected him to be our 1991 Team USA Scholarship winner to represent America at the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, England. So, this victory felt personal... As I sat in the empty front straightaway grandstands before dawn on that historic race day, I reflected on how grateful I am for my racing passion, that my father instilled in me when I was 9 years old. Ron Pfanner died on his 48th birthday in the year following my graduation from high school, and sadly, he was never able to see the Indy 500 in person. But I was blessed to be able to watch the race with him seven times, live on closed circuit TV on every Memorial Day weekend from 1964-1970, in various theaters and auditoriums in Southern California. This shaped my life's journey to that historic day in 2016, and beyond. On that May morning nine years ago, I was moved by seeing my friend and business partner Chris Dyson and his young son Nick together in the pit lane garages where the historic Indy cars were being prepared for pre-race laps of honor. Young Nick was invited to hop into the cockpit of the Marmon Wasp that Ray Harroun drove to victory in the Inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911. The look is Nick's eyes was special. For a fleeting instant it felt as if Harroun's brave spirit channeled through Nick. This remains my favorite moment from a truly epic day.