Since my parents are huge IndyCar fans, my sister and I grew up going out to the track during the month of May. Even though the Indy 500 isn't until the end of the month, race season is a full month commitment. Attending the race itself was a rite of passage in my family; we weren't allowed to attend until we were 13 years old. Still, I spent many hot, sweaty days out at the track watching practices and qualifying and trying to run into my favorite drivers. Here are 10 things you know to be true if you grew up going to IMS.

1. Your parents always brought HUGE headphones for you to protect your little ears from the roar of the car's engines.

I can't tell you how many pictures I have sitting with red, bulky headphones over my ears.

2. From a young age, you could name the first and last names of all the IndyCar drivers.

And you still can.

3. If you were lucky enough to have a suite, you prayed that they would be catering in fried chicken that day.

Fried chicken, green beans, biscuits and apple butter, and brownies outdid any of the other possible meals.

4. Your parents snuck you into the garages long before you were 18 years old.

As a result, you have some pretty cool pictures with some famous drivers.

5. You have lots of photos with drivers, but you look too dweeby in them to really share.

Yeah...it's probably time to update some of those photos.

6. You went to great lengths to get autographs from your favorite drivers.

I once stood outside the women's restroom and waited for Danica Patrick to come out so she could sign my hand.

7. Those hot days spent at the track could only be cured by Lemon Chills.

You would offer to go get it, as long as your parents would give you $4 to buy one.

8. The sound of bagpipes gets you really excited.

You became accustomed to running out to see those men in skirts playing the loud instruments.

9. You can't make too many concrete plans in the month of May because you already know you're going to be busy.

First, there are practices, then qualifying, then more qualifying, then more practices, then Carb Day...yeah it's a full month's worth of events.

10. The first year you got to go to the Indy 500 was one of the best days of your life.

And now, you can't imagine Labor Day weekend without the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.