As practice action got started early Friday, I turned to the nearest TV to see Atlantic Series driver David Garza taking the first laps of the day.  I immediately recognized the name and recalled eating lunch with Garza and a few of his teammates at a press luncheon on Wednesday (boy, that sounded like a Doug Krikorian lead, shame on me.)

That moment seeing Garza on TV not only snapped me out of my morning haze, it was a blatant reminder that these drivers are super stars, even if most American sports fans and I don’t know it.

Garza and I inhaled free eats while discussing the Long Beach track like it was a dangerous short cut thru town.  Put me at the same table with MLB, NFL or NBA athletes, and I’d inundate them with questions about their lifestyles and overall celebrity.  With Garza, we were just having a cafeteria conversation.

Some of these guys are second only to soccer (futbol) players in their native land, and even though thousands will attend the Grand Prix this weekend, most wouldn’t recognize the drivers out of their jumpsuits.

It’s easy to forget about the human behind the wheel while marveling at the machine, but the relationship is symbiotic.

At the Walk of Fame inductions on Thursday, Gary Gabelich’s widow, Rae, read a forward written by her late husband.  Gary explained that while trying to break the land speed record, he felt like he built a relationship with his rocket-powered car.  Gabelich held the record for 13 years, longest by an American.

So, when you’re watching the race this weekend, take a second to think about the time and effort put into these machines, and the dedication and care put into the athlete behind the wheel.