Tuesday marked the first day of practice for the Indianapolis 500, and fans filled the stands at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to soak it all in.For many fans, going to 500 practice is more than just watching cars on the track; it s a tradition. Some fans have been coming to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for decades.This is the place to be in the Month of May. If you dont come here, youre missing out. This is a bucket list event, Tom Shoffner said.82-year-old Ron Jones, of Speedway, has come to the track every year since 1957. He says it takes him nearly a month to prepare for the events, and that he gets so excited for the first practice that it feels like a holiday.I have to figure out what Im going to wear, what Im going to take with me, and where Im going to go when I get out there. All my life, I dreamed of getting up in that penthouse, and Im up there now, and I like to sit out here with the people, so many people, and a lot of them are famous, Jones said.Some fans have started a new family tradition.We come every year to practice, we skip school that day, and take in the race, Sam Crecelius said.Students from several local schools took a field trip to the speedway for tours and to see cars on the track.Were watching the practice races, we had a nice picnic lunch, and we have a scavenger hunt that were doing, said parent Lauren Powers.Another parent, Molly Peterson, added, Weve gotten to walk around. We got to see the trophy, we kissed the bricks, we watched the cars, so theyre just having a great time out here.Field trips are great fun, but for die-hard race fans like Jones, the track isnt just a place to visit in May; its a part of who they are.If Im not here, Im dead or flat on my back in the hospital. I couldnt imagine life without this. Im so proud and so happy to have this in my backyard.Cars were on the track from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Gates open at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, with practice set to run from noon to 6 p.m., weather permitting. ...read more read less