In the days before NASCAR evolved into the motorized version of the NFL  -- you know, a sports-culture dictatorship with designs on ruling the world -- the Indianapolis 500 was about all the American public knew or cared about in auto racing. 

But we have Memorial Day on the horizon, and the Indy 500 sprouts as a persistent perennial bravely soldiering on even though those meanies at NASCAR still try to steal the Brickyard's thunder with its own big race this weekend, the Coca-Cola 600 right in NASCAR's lair, the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

Like other sports that have fallen to the second or third tier, the Indianapolis 500 has relied on personalities rather than the essence of the event to promote itself. Hence, the phenomena of Danica Patrick, who admirably plays down the gender angle. This year, there will be three women among the 33 starters.

Also sort of interesting is that there will be THREE Andrettis in this weekend's race -- Michael (son of the legendary Mario), Marco (son of Michael) and John (cousin of Michael and Marco). If any of them takes the checkered flag, it would be the first time an Andretti wins the Indy 500 in 37 years.