On May 19, 2025, the Southeastern Sports Network had the opportunity to attend the Indy 500 practice session at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This experience provided eight seniors with official media passes, granting access to Gasoline Alley, pit lanes, and the IMS media center, putting us side-by-side with professional journalists and photographers covering one of the most iconic events in motorsports.
“Our team was incredibly honored to have the opportunity to cover this practice,” said senior Josh Coulon. “The experience that we gained on location was new to all, and very valuable to our team.”
The group arrived at IMS around noon, checking in at the media headquarters before receiving their credentials. After a quick briefing from the track communications staff, they stepped into the fast-paced world of race day media.
“Having access to our school press passes is one thing, but being able to hold an all-access media credential for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Surreal,” said senior Catherine Lederman. “I have never felt more important in my life.”
The team’s first stop was pit lane, where they witnessed drivers gathering for a photo around the prestigious Borg-Warner Trophy. The photo opportunity, normally seen only through TV broadcasts, offered a close-up view of racing history in the making.
“Seeing something I’ve only ever seen on TV, up close and personal, was such an incredible opportunity,” said senior Jasa Triplett.
“Having the ability to be on the ground where everything is moving so fast and working at such a professional level was inspiring.” said senior Katherine Senseman. “It was an amazing moment to take in everything around me and be appreciative of this learning moment.”
From there, part of the team explored the garages, capturing behind-the-scenes moments as mechanics fine-tuned the high-performance IndyCars. It was an up-close look at the technical precision and intensity that goes into preparing a car for the track.
“It was so incredibly loud,” said senior Maddy Page. “Watching the drivers get their cars fixed so quickly was really cool. It gave me a new appreciation for how much teamwork happens behind the scenes.”
After photographing pre-practice preparations, the SSN team split up to cover different areas of the venue. Some ventured into the infield to capture driver interactions and team operations, while others took to the grandstands, focusing their lenses on cars roaring down the straightaways at over 230 miles per hour.
“The environment of the track was unbelievable,” said senior Annaka Whittey. “To get my first experience taking photos at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Racing Capital of the World, felt like an absolute dream.”
The day wrapped up inside the IMS media center, where the SSN crew edited content, networked with industry professionals, and observed how national media outlets manage coverage of major sporting events.
“We got to work in the media center overlooking the track alongside other professionals,” said senior Havana Pagaja. “The environment and energy were inspiring, and everyone was so willing to help with anything we needed.”
