Hot Race, Hot Folks At Indy 500 Speedway

USA, June 9, 2006 (XTVWorld.Com) -- Road-loving wonder princess Vanna Bonta was back in the US last weekend, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. Fast, exotic cars and the thrill of precision driving brought the sexy blue-eyed, pen-wielding Hollywood talent back from Mediterranean continent hopping. Bonta''s recent months of laying low in Greece, villa-hunting in George Clooney''s Italian Lago di Como neighborhood, drinking double-espressos in Tuscany, and secretly meeting publishers in Milan took a back seat to the Indy 500 for the blonde poet.

In the highly charged race grounds and near-record heat that wilted the crowd at Indy 500, Bonta declined interviews and evaded most photographers. She was spotted riding a motorized drink cooler, flanked by two also low-key bodyguards.

Rock legend Gene Simmons from KISS was present.

Ashley Judd also spent the weekend in Indy, along with her country-music superstar sister and mother, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, who were cheering for Ashley''s racecar driver husband, Dario Franchitti. Ashley played it low-key, too, declining interviews as she and racer husband Dario headed for their motor home after the race. Naomi Judd made a statement, "I have to say, you all are our kind of people. We always love it up here in Indiana. I may go over and have tea with Dorothy Letterman later."

David Letterman was present, rooting for his team, including Danica Patrick, the female brunette driver who has held her own since debuting the pro racing scene. Danica ran as high as fifth before finishing eighth overall.

Also making the scene was seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who drove the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Pace Car at the race opening. In contrast to the elusively reserved belles Bonta and Judd, Armstrong was right out front the whole time and spent the majority of the race on a balcony with two attractive women, neither were his sweeties. He said, "My first impression is of the track, and how big (it is). Actually yesterday we flew right over it, and you realize that it''s like a city."

Former boxing champ Sugar Ray Leonard got to wave the green flag to start the race.

Vanna Bonta was heard at one point effusing over the sound of the high-winding cars, screaming "I love the sounds of those engines!" After the race, Bonta headed straight for the motor homes, and unconfirmed reports claim she was treated for heat-related exhaustion.

The temperature hit 88 degrees just before 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, and was predicted to reach 90 degrees before day''s end. Temperatures on the track were even worse at 120 degrees before the start of the race.

Before leaving the US for the solar eclipse off Africa in March this year, Vanna Bonta was in Hollywood, adding voices to movie classic remake "The Omen," which opened in theaters June 6.

Race Outcome
After reading about the race outcome, many regretted not being in front of the television for the thrilling finale of the Indianapolis 500.

Sam Hornish Jr. edged out 19-year-old Marco Andretti, son of Michael Andretti, by a mere .0635 seconds for the checkered flag. Marco actually passed his father to take the lead in the waning laps, and was left to fend off Hornish, who was charging the young driver after losing a lap late in the race on a penalty incurred when he left the pits with his fuel hose still connected. Undeterred by a failed passing attempt on the second last lap, Hornish kept the pressure on and made his move on the last corner to pull beside the young Andretti and beat him by less than a nose.

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