The new timing and scoring Pagoda was built during a recent IMS overhaul. Many new enhancements to the fabled facility were added after the Speedway was awarded the US Grand Prix for Formula One in 2000.

The Penske team, normally a CART-series competitor, joined the IRL teams to contest the Indy 500.

Tech Inspection - where the teams learn if their racers are legal or not - gets very crowded at times. Cars and mechanics line up outside the Tech Inspection garage and wait for their turn to go under the Inspector's microscope.

For the month of May, this small space is home for the LP Racing crew. The garages at the speedway are actually quite nice, with plenty of space for the cars and all the tools needed to keep them raceworthy.

Even while waiting in line for Tech Inspection, mechanics are tending to the equipment.

Transporters decorated with the sponsor's names and logos pack the infield parking area of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Inspectors swarm over a car during the Tech Inspection process. All manner of items are checked while the team members look on nervously.

Team Penske roll their hot rod into the Tech Inspection area.

Kelley Racing is one of the top teams in IRL competition. In fact, the Delphi-sponsored team, with driver Scott Sharp, won the pole for the 2001 running of the 500.

There is never any downtime for the LP racing crew. Each crew member has his own area of responsibility.

As with most hot rods, the Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara-Olds spends most of its time on jack stands being tweaked by the LP Racing crew. Doesn't sound all that different from our projects, huh?

The Olds Aurora Indy V8 was the most popular powerplant in Pit Lane. The production-based-but-highly-modified methanol burning engine was good for around 700 hp. Here one of the LP crew members is making a template for a heat shield in front of the headers. Nice headers, by the way.

This is a good shot of the rear suspension on a modern Indy car. It's a fully independent setup with upper and lower A-arms, and pushrod-actuated springs and shocks.

The front and rear brakes feature carbon discs and pads, and offer tremendous stopping power - once warm. While the brakes aren't worked very hard at Indy, it's better to have great braking and not need it instead of the other way around!