2nd annual Wienie 500 gives Indy Carb Day fans more food for thought

For the second year, the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 fed the Indy 500 Carb Day crowd with two laps of action and some ridiculous food-based puns, as six 27-foot long Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles navigated the illustrious 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Their purpose? To earn the BorgWiener Victory Lane wreath, made by Julie Vance of Yorktown, Ind., who makes the BorgWarner wreath for the winner of the Indy 500, a tradition held since 1960.

Each Wienermobile – 14,000-lb vehicles powered by 6-liter Chevrolet V8s – represents a regional hot dog style from around the country. The Chi Dog from the Midwest, New York Dog from East, Slaw Dog from the Southeast, Corn Dog (that’s a nationwide), Seattle Dog from the Northwest, and a Chili Dog from the South.

The three rows of two lined up with defending champion Slaw Dog on pole, with Grill ’Em Up Gabby and At the Grill Isaac at the helm. On their outside was the Chi Dog, Row 2 comprised Seattle Dog and Chili Dog, with New York Dog and newcomer Corn Dog bringing up the rear.

Late night chat show star Andy Richter (Conan O’Brien’s sidekick), was on hand to give the command (he was commander-in-beef) and lead a quartet with the anthem – “I Wish I Were an Oscar Mayer Wiener” – and the Carb Day grandstand crowd responded with fervor in abundance. Or indeed, a bun dance.

At the wave of the green, Chi Dog immediately swung across the front of Slaw Dog, with Seattle in third. But down the back straight, Seattle Dog was shuffled to the back after trying to slipstream past the pair of them and having Chi Dog swerve at them, forcing Seattle to take evasive action.

However Chi Dog paid the price for not keeping it straight, losing momentum and the lead to Slaw Dog. Then up the front straight at half distance, Chili Dog drafted past to demote Slaw.

More swerves and lost momentum allowed New York Dog to draft past down the back straight and into the lead, pursued by Chili and Slaw. Up the front straight for the final time, Chili pulled out of New York’s slipstream and they crossed the bricks, in a scene reminiscent of Al Unser Jr.’s 1992 triumph over Scott Goodyear. But there was no question that New York’s Cook Em Cam and Jack & Cheese ended the race as top dogs, to the chargrilled chagrin of the crowd.