The world according to Riff

INDIANAPOLIS - A 96-year-old great-great-grandmother says it was "fun" going around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 180 mph. "Oh, that was fun!" Edith Pittenger of Muncie said recently after taking a trip around the famous track in a two-seater Dallara with driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. (I'm jealous)

The ride from the Indy Racing Experience was a Christmas gift from Pittenger's children. Pittenger, who is retired from Ball State University as assistant director of personnel services, began attending the Indianapolis 500 in 1965.

"I like the excitement, the speed, the noise," she said. "I'm one of the few that like the noise."..(Watch that pace maker though..lol)

After trading her black slacks and checkered-flag blouse for a red-and-white driver's suit and black racing shoes, Pittenger was helped into the second seat of the 650-horsepower race car.

Her family broke out into cheers as the car completed a warm-up lap. "She's been talking about this. She said, 'I don't want them slowing down because I'm 96,'" said Pittenger's daughter, Janet Cates. (Gotta admire her spunk )

After a second lap, Pittenger said, "I can do better!" and Luyendyk, a veteran of the 2006 Indy 500 and son of the two-time winner, took her rocketing around the track at 180 mph.(Can you imagine....at 96 years, she has gone from model -A or possibly horse and buggy (depending on where she grew up..lol..from one horse to 650 horse.....power that is....hope I'm still that spunky when I get that old...if I get that old....lol...riff)

"I didn't know how fast we were going, but we were going," said Pittenger.