Speed Fever

Every spring, the city of Indianapolis roars to life with the legendary Indy 500. Hundreds of thousands of eager fans — enough to fill ten Super Bowls — gather around the track on race day. The preparations for the Indy 500, however, are nearly as outsized as the race itself. A week before the checkered flag drops, downtown Indianapolis swells with fans for the annual Indy 500 parade. Locals revel in the roar of engines and the swirl of pageantry, bursting with pride at their celebrated race. The parade, like the many events leading up to the race itself, also reflects a city obsessed with speed. Fast times sometimes lead to sudden tragedies, and the doctors and nurses at Wishard Memorial Hospital know this all too well. During the Indy 500 race week, they prepare themselves for anything, knowing that the imminent arrival of millions of race fans can propel the trauma rooms from zero to overflowing in what seems like the blink of an eye.