The Only Time They’ll Hear “Slow Down!”

Everyone loves a parade, even race car drivers it turns out. The Indy race car series has a number of drivers in the Bacchus parade – named for the Greek god of wine and known as one of Mardi Gras’ super parades. But unlike a typical race, these speed demons are going to have to pace themselves, and not just with their street speed.

For this parade, Mardi Gras bead-maker  Beads by the Dozen, made 12,000 strands for INDYCAR. “They have to throw one bead at a time or they are going to run out fast,” warns Dan Kelly, maker of the custom-made beads.  Fittingly, Oscar nominee John C. Reilly, is on one of the Indy floats (you remember him from the classic ‘Talladega Nights.’)

The big bash gives drivers an opportunity to be a part of a New Orleans cultural mainstay as INDYCAR prepares for the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park on April 12, and of course the Long Beach Grand Prix April 17-19th.