By Andrew Cutler
March 21 2007

Hello there, UfficiosoSTR forum viewers! I just wanted to introduce myself by telling you a little bit about my history as a fan of motorsports. Despite living in Indianapolis and it's western suburbs for most of my childhood, I never REALLY had much interest in motorsports until 1981 when, at age 16, I attended my first Indy 500. It was one of the most controversial finishes in the history of the event, with "court" challenges extending on for months. The following year's 500 saw the event's closest finish ever up until 1992. By that point, I was hooked on Indy car racing. I have been to every Indy 500 since '81 except for the race in '86. I was graduating from college on the day that the race was SUPPOSED to take place -it was rained out until the following week -, so I sold my ticket. Of course, that proved to be the only year that my favorite Indy car driver from that era, Bobby Rahal, won the 500 (it was also the closest 1-2-3 finish ever)!

My first memory of watching an F1 event (on t.v.) was of a race in the parking lot of a Las Vegas casino. I can't remember what year or tell you any of the driver's names, but I do remember the commentator noting the fact that if a certian driver finished in at least 3rd place, he would either wrap up the the WDC or at least keep his points lead intact (it's been a few decades - I can't remember exactly which!).

My next memory is more "vivid" one. I was at college watching a broadcast of the 1984 Brazilian GP. The announcer was going on and on about this "wonderful" Brazilian rookie by the name of Ayrton Senna. He was just "gushing" over this guy; going on an on about how Senna was destined for greatness & I was sitting there thinking "yeah - right." Little did I know....

I watched a handful of GPs each season thoughout the 80's, but never followed the series very closely. I really couldn't tell you who was in F1 back then except for the major teams & the so-called "gang of five" - Prost, Senna, Mansell, Piquet & Alboreto. 1991 was the year that I started following F1 closely, and I doubt that I have missed more than a dozen GP brodcasts since then. Ayrton Senna was my favorite driver until his tragic death: after that it was Damon Hill until his retirement. Since then I really have not had a favorite driver, but I was a confirmed fan of the Jordan team until it's demise. It was while Googling the net in late '05, looking for information about Jordan's successor, Midland, that I stumbled upon Sportnetwork, and you all have been stuck with me ever since!

In addition to Indy car -mostly IRL, but I am trying get back into CCWS - and F1, I am also a fan of NASCAR, which I have been following since '91 as well. My current favorite NASCAR driver is Casey Mears. My current favorite IRL driver is a tie between Vitor Meira and Scott Dixon. In CCWS, I like Justin Wilson and Sebastien Bourdais.

In 1999 I purchased a house within walking distance of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I attend the Indy 500, the USGP and the Brickyard 400 (the NASCAR race at Indy) every year.

Besides motorsports, I follow the local minor league Hockey team (the Indiana Ice) and the local NFL team (the Indianapolis Colts). I have recently taken up Golf and Rowing as pastimes.

Just alittle personal info for you: I am 42 as of August '06. Since graduating from Hanover College in '86 with a B.A. in History, I have worked in a number of fields including shipping/recieving, warehousing, freight transportation dispatch, parking garage management and, currently, light industrial production. I am a bachelor and have no kids.