A run around the Brickyard

While many students this week seemed to be on a straight path from Bloomington to their homes, senior Pete Shaw was driving in circles. But he wasn't lost. He was driving his grandfather's Boyle-Special around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.\nShaw, whose late grandfather Wilbur drove the car to victory in the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940, took two ceremonial laps around the famous track Tuesday.\nWilbur, who also won the race in 1937, is a very important name to racing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to being the first person to win the race consecutively, he also helped save the famous speedway from destruction after World War II. He convinced Tony Hulman in 1945 to buy the track before it was developed into an industrial complex.\nWhile Pete has sat in the priceless car many times, this was the first time he had a chance to drive it. \n"This is a very fun experience, I hope to get to do it again," Pete said. "Next time, I won't be nearly as nervous."\nWhile Pete said he was excited about the experience, he was also anxious. As he stood around the pit area waiting for officials to direct him to get into the car, he chanted quietly, "Don't stall, don't stall, don't stall." \nLuckily, the car didn't, and the nervousness subsided as he pulled out of the pits and onto the two-and-a-half-mile oval track. \n"As soon as I get the car rolling, I won't be nervous," Pete said before the drive. "But once I sit in that car, I'm going to be real nervous, a little light-headed and excited."\nWhile the experience was great in itself, Pete stressed the importance of the tradition and keeping the spirit of racing in his family strong. \nPete never knew his grandfather, as Wilbur died in a plane crash in 1954. But the importance of racing has been very important throughout Pete's life.\nHis father, Bill Shaw, has continued the tradition and fostered Pete's interest in racing. By simply walking though Bill's house, one would see a lot of things about Wilbur, Pete said. \nWhen Pete was younger, he would spend summers touring the racing circuit with his dad, who was director of the Championship Driver's Association at the time. While his father was doing business, Pete would hang out at the various speedways. \n"It made the summers a blast," Pete said.\nFor the past couple years, he has been going to the Indianapolis 500 with his dad, a tradition Pete said he would like to continue.\nLast summer for his 21st birthday, Bill gave his son the chance to learn to race at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. There, Pete learned about Cart and Grand Prix racing and got to drive souped-up Mustangs and Formula 4 cars. \nPete was then allowed to drive the car like his grandfather had so many years before. \n"I hope they let me do it again," Pete said. "I hope my dad and I switch off every other time."\nWith future plans on his mind, Pete said that he will not rule out giving up his intended career in journalism for one in racing. \n"If the opportunity presents itself I will definitely give it up," Pete said. "Journalism does not have weight over race driving. I will do that any day."\nBill, who has driven the car several times in the past and will get to drive it on race day this year, expressed his feelings about seeing his son drive his father's car.\n"What a great thing to get to share," Bill said. "This is great stuff"