INDIANAPOLIS — Every single year at some point during the month of May a clip will be shown of a fresh faced Al Unser Jr. with his eyes ringed with tears saying, “You just don’t know what Indy means.”

For many of us it still means a great deal. Sure, it is easy to be cynical. I had just spent a long day at Indianapolis Raceway Park watching drivers I still believe can succeed in the Indianapolis 500, knowing full well this opportunity may not exist for them. I also don’t get particularly excited when someone from another land moves to IndyCar as a fallback option.