I, Ricky Bobby, first visited Indianapolis (pop. 2 million) in 1991 for the World Gymnastics Championships and had a great time. This time I am here representing Cirque du Soleil at the USA Diving Championships.

White River State Park and the Zoo are sprawling green spaces adjacent to IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) — Dan Quayle is an alumni.

The Indiana University Natatorium is host of the Championships.

A lovely canal system winds through the parks near the venue.

Indianapolis is home to USA Diving, USA Gymnastics and the NCAA Headquarters. More important to Hoosiers is The Brickyard, home to the Indianapolis 500. (I am in town during the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard – the NASCAR Nextel Cup.)

The days of the Klan ruling ‘Naptown’ are long gone. But Indianapolis is back on the map — like Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook — because they have a monorail.

It broke down during a heat wave, the day I arrived, cooking some hospital patients.

» next travelogue post on this trip – Woodward West Sport Camp