Thoughts on IMS from a First Timer

Thoughts on IMS from a First Timer

Everyone remembers their first visit to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The iconic bricks, the massive grandstands, the towering presence of the Pagoda, and the impressive history of the venue – all of these elements make it an unforgettable sight to behold.
 
For Demi Chalkias, driver of the No. 34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4, it’s a moment she is greatly looking forward to experiencing soon, and one that she will finally be able to check off the list come the season finale event in early October.

“Heading into any iconic track, you definitely feel the goosebumps that come with the mix of excitement and nervousness,” she explained. “Knowing that this is such a monumental track and how much history it holds, you just want to contribute to it yourself.”

It is undeniable that every driver dreams of being able to kiss the famous bricks at the start/finish line, a tradition that is recognized all over the world. Although every victory achieved is welcomed and celebrated, it holds true that a win at IMS simply means a little bit more.

“Every track we've been to this season has been new to me and every track in my head has been iconic, but Indianapolis definitely hits different,” she elaborated. “I’m very excited to head there and I just feel extremely grateful to have these opportunities with JMF Motorsports and John Farrow.”

When preparing for the final double header races of the season, Chalkias is approaching the task just like any other event.

“We always hope our Mercedes will perform well in any given situation. At times we have lacked straight line speed, but our car is excellent under braking and cornering, that’s where we’ll be aiming to gain time. Our plan, as always, is to go out there and do our absolute best. We’re always aiming to bring home a strong result for the team, and they have been so supportive all season long, so we want to bring them that success.”

This is Chalkias’ first season in the Pirelli GT4 America championship, and it has been a great year of growth, as she went on to say that “this is the highest level of racing I've ever competed in, and it has brought me to new heights, not only as a driver, but as a human being. You really have your strengths and weaknesses exposed in new ways when you're competing at this scale. You're consistently working on yourself, both personally and professionally, and this experience has been excellent in allowing me to continue working on my craft. I’m pushing forward in the best way possible.”

“The goal is always to self-improve and get better as a driver,” she continued. “In every session and across every lap, you’re consistently reevaluating. From where I started to where I am now, I’ve made a lot of progress. It's been a huge learning curve, but it's been incredible.”

The Canadian driver previously competed with a Mercedes-AMG GT4 in a different series, and she credits the program for providing her with the necessary foundation and building blocks to move up to the SRO America platform.

“Any seat time in the car that you're about to race is a positive experience,” she stated. “Racing in that series gave me some seat time in the GT4 car to at least have a solid understanding of how the car responds and operates. Seat time is the number one thing you need as a driver. I believe it is instrumental in order to have further success.”

Although the prestige of Indianapolis Motor Speedway can at times seem intimidating, Chalkias is self-assured and steadfast in her approach.
 
“Heading into any race weekend, and especially Indy, it’s important to remind yourself what you're going out there to do and the goals that you've set out for yourself. Every race track is essentially the same thing. You turn left, you turn right, you go straight – it’s just pieced together differently! The mentality of knowing that you’ve done this before always kind of helps in reducing the nerves. If you think too much about all the other elements, like the history and stature of the track, it can work against you. That being said, it’s important to be grateful and understand how privileged you are to have those opportunities. Showing gratitude will always pay dividends, but not getting too far into your own head is also a good thing.”

Join us from October 3rd to 6th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch all the action from the thrilling season finale race weekend event, tickets are available for purchase now!