This is what it feels like to shoot NASCAR races only feet away from the cars
posted Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 11:19 AM EST
This past weekend, I photographed qualifying for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500. My press pass allowed me to get ridiculously close to the action, both on and off the track, but not nearly as close as photojournalist Tony Ding was able to get while covering LifeLock 400 NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway back in 2009.
As the video below shows, Ding was mere feet away from the cars as they flew by at over 200 mph (320 km/h). To do this, he stood just outside of turn one and shot through a fold-down fence opening that is presumably allowed to be accessed by photographers and videographers as the race carries on.
In the video’s description, Ding said, ‘It’s always louder, more scary, and way more asphalt in your face than you can imagine or think it’d be.’ Racing fan or not, it’s easy to see just how exhilarating it is to shoot a motorsports event.
(via PetaPixel)