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Today is "Fast Friday" at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, marking the last day of practice before qualifiers start tomorrow in advance of the Indianapolis 500, one of the greatest Indiana sporting traditions.
And with phase two of the team's offseason program in the books and phase three beginning Monday, the Indianapolis Colts' rookies took a field trip today to IMS today to take in the sights and sounds of "Fast Friday."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your 2015 Indianapolis Colts Rookies. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ONEfocus?src=hash">#ONEfocus</a> <a href="http://t.co/1nnkK6EdXT">pic.twitter.com/1nnkK6EdXT</a></p>— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) <a href="https://twitter.com/Colts/status/599243952605122560">May 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The rookies are getting a taste of Indianapolis as they visit the <a href="https://twitter.com/IMS">@IMS</a> today. <a href="http://t.co/jlckyekYTp">pic.twitter.com/jlckyekYTp</a></p>— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) <a href="https://twitter.com/Colts/status/599223228863676416">May 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Colts' rookies are all trying to make the team, but in the meantime they're getting a taste of Indiana. This year's running of the Indy 500 will be the 99th running, and it's a part of the culture in Indiana that the rookies are hoping to acclimate to as they hope to make the team. But also, it's just a fun trip and a fun break from the constant studying and working out that these players are doing as they try to learn the playbook and impress the coaching staff.
These rookies aren't the first Colts to get a taste of Indiana's racing culture this offseason, however. Punter Pat McAfee drove the pace car for the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis last weekend. McAfee also helped kick off an eventful month of May by kicking a football down Meridian in Indianapolis and onto Monument Circle earlier this month.