by Chris Martin
The New England Patriots and the New York Giants are set to square off Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI. Most of the attention centers around the game itself, but there are actually dozens of events that take place in and around the host city during the two weeks prior to the contest. And since the 2012 Super Bowl will be the first big game ever played in Indianapolis, the city is taking the opportunity to combine football with another sport that has made Indy famous: auto racing.
As a result, Indianapolis has partnered with the National Football League and Indy Racing Experience to achieve something that has never been done before for the Super Bowl. The 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee has commissioned the creation of 33 "Super Cars" which were unveiled on Friday, January 27 in downtown Indianapolis. These vehicles are Formula 1 race cars, each of which has been decorated in the colors and logos of one of the NFL's 32 teams - plus another car that has been emblazoned with the Super Bowl XLVI logo and colors.
These Super Cars were on display last weekend at the same downtown site, and were then moved en masse to the International Motor Speedway on Tuesday. But each of these vehicles will be transported to a different location for display starting Thursday and running through Super Bowl Sunday.
Some of the cars will be shown in other cities in Indiana, such as Anderson, Fishers, Greenwood, Greenfield, Carmel, Noblesville, Columbus, Bloomington, Plainfield, Muncie, Lafayette, Shelbyville, and Zionsville. Others will be stationed at landmarks within Indianapolis itself, such as the Indianapolis Children's Museum, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis International Airport, Dallara IndyCar Factory, and City Market - as well as malls and other gathering places. One car will remain at the speedway, but the Super Bowl XLVI car and the two cars representing the New York Giants and the New England Patriots will be on display at the Super Bowl Village. (The full list can be found here.)
In addition, the Super Bowl Host Committee will be partnering with Foursquare, the popular smartphone app, in conjunction with the Super Cars. The app will allow fans to "check in" at the Super Car locations and receive additional rewards and prizes. This will also give fans a chance to explore different areas of the Indianapolis metro area to view each car and get their picture taken alongside them.
Not everyone can go to the Super Bowl game itself. But the Super Cars allow Indianapolis residents and sports fans without game tickets to enjoy the pageantry and color of Super Bowl XLVI -- Indy style.
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