How a 40-year tradition landed these three people first in line for the 2026 Indianapolis 500
· Yahoo Sports
Note: Christian and Brooke requested that their last names not be shared in the story.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Dakota Langston, Christian and Brooke sat outside Gate 5 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Their camper van, located at the American Legion, is about a football field away, but this gate is their overnight resting spot. The trio from Northwest Indiana are among the first fans in line.
Dakota arrived to the camp site Thursday. Christian and Brooke reached Friday. Life at the track is still a new experience for the three, especially Brooke. But a 40-year tradition has landed them at the speedway's front steps on the eve of the 110th Indianapolis 500.
Dakota is wearing a cowboy hat, while Christian is sporting a dark gray Modelo shirt for their third Indy 500. Christian plans to have a few more of the drinks on his shirt before Sunday ends. As for Brooke, it's the first Indy 500 for the Willamette University law student who is displaying her race weekend spirit with a green glow stick in hand.
Christian’s stepfather and Dakota’s father-in-law, Paul, was first introduced to the Indy 500 40 years ago by his dad. Paul hasn't missed the greatest spectacle in racing since 1986.
“We just hopped on the wave, which is fun. It's up to us to continue the legacy,” Christian said.
Christian and Brooke are a couple. The pair reunited with Dakota and the rest of the family. A game of beer pong took place before it broke out into a water fight instigated by Brooke.
Christian, 24, and Dakota, 31, had a bit more experience with the drinking game than Brooke, 21. Brooke retreated to a game she could handle.
But it's family moments like those, in an environment full of attractions, that influence the group to keep the family tradition alive.
“The atmosphere makes this place special,” Brooke said. “Hanging out with everyone and all the characters walking around. From the dirty sodas to the good time for the family to catch up.”
Christian is from Hobart. Brooke hails from Schererville and Dakota from Gary. They don't take opportunities like the ones they had Saturday to see the garages at Gasoline Alley for granted.
Christian and Brooke made their Saturday worth it, spending about $300 in the gift shop by the Pagoda. With no shame, the two will don their black “Indy” crew neck and checkered hat as they watch from their Tower Terrace seats.
Christian says Alex Palou will win his second straight Indy 500. Dakota is placing his bets on Josef Newgarden. As for Dakota, she's rooting for the “one from Chicago,” Penske’s David Malukas.
Malukas, who is starting third in Row 1 on Sunday, will become only the third 24-year-old driver to capture the Borg-Warner trophy if he wins. Ed Carpenter’s Alexander Rossi was the last driver to capture the Indy 500 at 24 when he won in 2016.
Brooke, along with other fans, will watch with astonishment if Malukas wins. But in their short amount of time at the track, Christian, Dakota and Brooke have seen their fair share of surprises.
When Christian and Dakota first came to the track in 2023, they saw a cut-out cardboard picture of a naked grandma. To this day, the two are eager to ask who came up with the idea.
Brooke, bemused, has yet to see it. The boys plan to bring her Sunday before the race. Even if it doesn't come to pass, a little boy blasting “shake dat laffy taffy” on a boombox at 11 p.m. on a Saturday is enough proof for Brooke that wild has no age limit during race weekend.
Brooke is still adjusting to the porta potties and the thought of more than 300,000 people leaving a venue at once after the race. Christian is preparing her for the “mosh pit” of people she’ll encounter. Brooke has the phone games, including UNO and Heads Up, ready to go for when they are waiting to depart.
But it's everything from the times of order to the ones of chaos that make this the most “fun time of year, along with July 4,” Christian said as fireworks go off behind the vans.
“Life camping out at the track is a gnarly lifestyle, but it's not bad,” he said.
Dakota, Christian and Brooke wouldn't trade their experience. They’ve fallen in love with the speed of the cars and carefree spirit of the fans. All three admitted they wish they had attended races during their childhood.
“I’m excited to see the actual races and I’m for sure coming back next year,” Brooke said. “The cars, the people, the vendors and the really good alcohol have made the experience great.”
“They're a little light on the alcohol, though,” Christian interjected.
That may be good for the trio.
Christian is a heat treat technician. Dakota is a power lineman. Dakota acknowledges his thin frame makes him a “little small” to play in the NFL. Both have work Tuesday. “Going back to work after this is terrible,” Dakota said.
“We drove down here after I got off, and the whole time I was just like, ‘I can't wait to get out of work and come here,’” Christian said. “And the whole time while I'm sitting here, I'm just dreading going back Tuesday.”
That's life for the next 40 years if they choose to uphold family tradition. These three now carry the mantle handed down by Paul. Having pole position at Gate 5 is not a bad start.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Meet the first fans in line for the 2026 Indianapolis 500