Via AL.com
May 20, 2014

HUEYTOWN, Alabama – Race car driver Charlie Kimball traversed the Birmingham area Tuesday in an effort to spread the word about this coming weekend’s Indianapolis 500.

Kimball spoke on radio and television stations, visited the SEC baseball tournament and then visited with two classes of fourth graders at North Highland Elementary School in Hueytown. At the school, he shared his story of getting into racing and shared information about the classic Indy 500, which will be run this Sunday.

He also shared his experiences as the only Type-1 diabetic on the Indy circuit. Kimball follows a careful diet before every race, and has equipment in his car to keep track of his blood sugar levels.

“I have a great support system,” he said.

Kimball said that Indy 500 weekend is a special time, and that the race still gives him goosebumps when he thinks of its tradition, legacy and meaning.

“I watched the race throughout my childhood, and there is truly no race I’d rather be in,” he said. “It has 350,000 fans watching it live, and the venue is huge. It’s a special race.”

Students at the school were fascinated with the facts he shared about the race–that the winner traditionally drinks milk after a victory, and that the winning race team “kisses the brickyard” at the start and finish line. And that his car can typically race the distance of a football field in one second.

To read more, please click here.

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Photo via AL.com

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