The Autonomous 500

I cannot wait for the time when the day after the regular Indy 500 they run a second race with Autonomous/Self Driving cars. The true spirit of the Indy 500 was the cars might or might not finish a 500 mile race because cars were new and experimental. Tires couldn’t handle going 50 mph, and in additional to the driver there was a mechanic in the car too, who pumped the fuel and leaned out of the car while it turned to keep it on the ground. Races like the Indy 500 were how car makers showed off their wares and improved their technology. As recently as the 1970’s you could go to a car dealership and buy the car you saw race that weekend. Having autonomous car race each other to best the technologies ability would sell tickets and cars.  Plus with autonomous cars we can go back to lots of fiery crashes, since there are no drivers to be hurt or killed. All in all the Autonomous 500 will be a return to car racing’s roots.