Speedway Resident Shoots Photos for IMS(posted July 26) For Speedway resident Dan Helrigel, the 30 days of May all come down to a two second window as the green flag flies to start the race. Helrigel's job is to shoot the famous "low start" photo, and unlike golf, there are no mulligans if he misses. Helrigel usually shoots 8 to 12 photos of the start at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His photos will appear around the world before the race is over. Helrigel describes this as the moment of truth. As the tail end of the cars sweep by, he has to huddle down to avoid the dirt and sand filled dust cloud kicked up by the cars from scratching his lens. An Indianapolis Star Photographer, Helrigel and two video photographers are the only ones permitted in "The Hole." He told an audience of 20 at the Speedway Public Library what it was like to be part of the IMS photo operations. He was promoted to that position in 2001. His photography work can seen in some of the banners displayed along turn four. The banner of Tony George waving the checkered flag is a Helrigel shot. Helrigel said that photo was of the Formula One race. He noted the F-1 races have a certain procedures for photographers to adhere to for the checkered flag finish. A photo delegate is head of all of the photographers. There are about 20 to 30 photographers in a gated area waiting for the last lap. When there is less than a half lap before the checkered flag is dropped, the photo delegate signals for the photographers to go. They rush toward the start fence to get the victory shot. The photographers are in such a hurry to get to the spot that it can become a dangerous situation. "Photographers have been injured and equipment broken. I had a flash broken," he said. Helrigel is proud to be able to carry on the tradition of taking photos of all of the drivers that qualify for the race. Helrigel is not allowed to use his own creativity for the race starts and driver qualifications. "They are prescribed shots," he said. He said in 2001 they shot the photos toward the east to capture the crowd. He called it a good idea to include the crowd, but it turned out not to be the best photo shoot because the crowd was too close the drivers and crew. "The driver and crew blended in with the fans," he said. He explained the background work that goes into shooting the 500 winner taking the checkered flag. He said he starts taking photos of every car crossing the finish line about 15 laps prior to the end to make sure he is in the right position to snap the car crossing the bricks and the checkered flag. He is also in victory circle clicking his digital camera of the winner drinking milk and wearing the wreath. Helrigel, along with three other IMS photographers shoot "the day after" victory shots. "The driver is asked if he would like to kiss the Borg Warner Trophy," he said. Helrigel always enjoys taking photos of the "Quilt Lady" giving the winner a quilt to drape over his car. "That is a nice way to end the month," he said. He emphasized that "The Day After" shots are very important, especially for sponsor recognition. He noted the day has been dubbed the dancing hats day because the winning crew has multiple shots taken so they can wear all of the various sponsors' hats. The tradition of kissing the bricks did not really become popular until NASCAR came to the track. He said it started with Dale Jarrett. He said that honor of kissing the hallowed ground carried over to the 500-mile race winners. Audience member Bill Uhrig proudly admitted that he kisses the bricks during the mini-marathon. "You have to," he said. Helrigel said he first started at the IMS through an internship at the Hall of Fame Museum. He said he just happened to be around when A. J. Foyt was being interviewed by USA Today. He said Foyt took them on a tour of the museum, and that during the tour Foyt become emotional as he credited the IMS and his first car sponsors with making him the man he is today. Helrigel was touched by Foyt's emotion. "I did not say a word during the tour." The personal encounter with A. J. became a special moment for him and he knew then he wanted to be part of racing. He called it luck that job in the mail room opened when he graduated from college so he could keep his foot in the door. About six months later he took a position for a dark room technician. Helrigel no longer travels with the IRL, only working the IMS races and testing events because of his family commitments. He teaches and shoots freelance photography in his spare time. |
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