By Kate Weaver
indy500.com
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Mitchell Cody has one dream: to compete in the Indianapolis 500 against his favorite driver, 2006 winner Sam Hornish Jr.
A resident of Castle Rock, Colo., Mitchell, 7, began working toward his dream this year by racing a 2006 Birel Kid Kart in the 50cc Comer two-cycle engine division of the Colorado Sprint Championship (CSC) Series. In just four starts during his rookie season, Mitchell captured one pole and one victory.
Mitchell's love for the Indianapolis 500 shows every time he races. He keeps a bottle of milk in a cooler in hopes of a Victory Lane celebration. When Mitchell captured his first win, he took a drink of milk and poured it over his head just as Hornish did after winning the 90th Indianapolis 500 in May.
For Mitchell, his connection with racing started even before he was born. His father, Eric Cody, sung "Back Home Again in Indiana" to him while he was still in the womb of his mother, Faith.
"Just minutes after Mitchell was born, he stopped crying when I began to sing 'Back Home Again in Indiana' to him," Eric Cody said.
Eric continued to sing that Indy 500 pre-race institution to Mitchell every night before he went to sleep. Mitchell watched replays of various Indianapolis 500s just to learn the words to the song. "Back Home Again in Indiana" ended up being the first song of which Mitchell knew every word.
At the age 5, Mitchell attended his first Indianapolis 500. While many 5-year-olds may find the Indianapolis Motor Speedway a neat place to visit, Mitchell asked his parents if he could stay at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway forever while they were taking a track lap on Community Day.
Just last year, Mitchell created and presented a video to his kindergarten class on the Indianapolis 500 and why he wanted to race in it and win. He told them about his experiences at the race, the cars and why the "500: is so special to him.
"I get butterflies in my stomach as we get close to the racetrack," Mitchell said, "I love the smell of race morning with the cookouts, the helicopters flying overhead and walking to our seats."
Mitchell took his passion for the Indianapolis 500 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to another level when he decorated his bedroom in an Indy Racing League and Indianapolis Motor Speedway theme. From banners to pillows to decals of the numbers of his favorite drivers, Mitchell dedicated his bedroom to Indy racing.
"The first thing I see in the morning is my Indy Racing League banner on my wall," Mitchell said, "My mom made me some race flags for my ceiling, and my pillows are race flags. And I've taken the pictures I have of Sam (Hornish Jr.), Vitor (Meira) and Tomas (Scheckter) and made posters with them."
Mitchell hopes to win the 2007 CSC State Championship, helping him get one step closer to realizing his dream of winning the Indianapolis 500.
"To be the best, I have to beat the best and the best race is at Indy," Mitchell said.
***
2007 Indianapolis 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 91st Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 27, 2007.
Tickets can be purchased at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Web site, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by phone or at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office. The IMS Ticket Office can be contacted at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally. Ticket Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Parking and camping permits for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" also can be purchased online, by phone or at the Ticket Office.
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