For most, the Indianapolis 500 is defined by blistering speeds upwards of 230mph and the pursuit of racing glory. But for John Green, the best-selling author of The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska, the event is less about the trophy and more about the ritual.

A Pilgrimage on Two Wheels

Every year, Green observes a personal tradition: waking up at 5:30 a.m. to cycle along the canal towpath to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Packed with water, beer, and sandwiches, Green treats the journey as a "pilgrimage," stopping at fixed points along the route to meet friends and fellow enthusiasts. The path is lined with porches decorated in checkered flags and homemade timing towers, building a sense of anticipation before the engines even start.

“The race is about community, ritual and shared experience,” Green explained. “It’s about what happens when really talented humans work with really fast motors. Racing is about what humans and machines can accomplish together.”

Forging Connections in Indianapolis

Though an Indianapolis native, Green only began attending the race in 2007 after moving back to the city. The event served as a cornerstone for his social life, leading to the creation of what may have been the world's only IndyCar fantasy league at the time. This kinship extends to the massive crowd of 350,000 fans.

Green views the sport as a "shared sight of enchantment," noting that the beauty of such gatherings is that "you aren’t looking at each other, you’re looking in the same direction." This sentiment persists regardless of scale, whether he is at the massive Speedway or cheering for his small soccer team, AFC Wimbledon, in England.

Terrifying Turns and Literary Ties

Green's connection to the race has occasionally moved from the stands to the track. In 2016, he was invited to drive a Corvette Stingray Coupe as a pace car. The experience was far more intense than he anticipated, with professional drivers urging him to speed up.

“It was truly terrifying,” Green recalled, describing how he "white-knuckled" the steering wheel while being tailed closely by pole-sitter Simon Pagenaud. "I’ve never clung to a steering wheel with such ferocity."

His love for the city and its traditions often bleeds into his professional work. Indianapolis serves as the setting for his 2017 novel Turtles All The Way Down and features a narrator in his upcoming book, Hollywood, Ending. “I always put at least a little Indianapolis in my books,” Green says, celebrating the idea that an ordinary town can house extraordinary lives.

A Family Tradition

The ritual has taken on new meaning recently as Green's son has joined the journey, increasing their ticket requirement from four to five. For Green, the ultimate goal of the day isn't a specific winner.

“I don’t really care who wins,” Green stated. “I root for a safe race and for everybody to have a good time... It’s a lot bigger than who wins the race.”