The exuberance displayed by the crowd upon the arrival of F1 driver Lewis Hamilton in Bangalore was akin to a Mohun Bagan-East Bengal football match in Kolkata. Hamilton?s day out in Bangalore had all the necessary ingredients?broken grills and fences, over-packed bleachers, fights, cops, and a fashionably out of control crowd.
When Hamilton reached Bangalore?s Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) road, where he was to drive his award winning F1 car, he saw few people sitting in the temporary gallery that had been constructed alongside the track. He later said he hadn?t expected many more to arrive. The organisers had arranged for about 6,000 people to drop in. A few hours later, more than 10,000 people were found bursting out of the makeshift arena, which had only one passage for entry and exit!
Soon, the lights turned green and the stadium erupted. The F1 car ripped deafeningly through the track, the stands vibrated, the media cheered and clapped as their ears popped. In less than what seemed to be a second, Hamilton reversed his car at the finish line and drove back. The track allowed him to achieve a top speed of 150km/hr, which by his standards bordered on geriatric.
The crowd, nevertheless, was ecstatic. Bits of rubber and tarmac flew into people?s faces. As the engine roared, hundreds ran across the field adjoining the track, and jumped on to the boundary wall that separated the two. In the tradition of Indian sports, every elevated structure was occupied by ticketless entrants.
Those in the stands probably felt frustrated by their inability to take a Sunday stroll on the track like the wall people. A few in the front row gently shook the grill that kept them fenced inside. Suddenly, they let out a resounding war cry of ?Looouueeesss!? The feeble fence came crashing down. Fearing a stampede, several people jumped onto the tarmac, while some toppled over unflatteringly. I was unfortunately one of the latter. The police, most of whom did not know who Hamilton was, ran around, scaring everyone back behind the cage, as the show came to a standstill for a good half hour.
Later, in a press conference, Hamilton stated he has seen a lot of F1 fans that go crazy when such a show takes place, ?but none quite as crazy and passionate as this.? He could not believe how enthusiastic the crowd was about F1. The sport may have quite a way to go in India but, judging by the excitement that this tiny glimpse inspired, there is no reason why F1 won?t work here.