After all the ceremony, including a huge balloon release, a flyover by a couple F16s, a marching band, singing the national anthem, etc, the cars follow the pace car around the track for a couple laps before being cut loose. Here's the action at turn one during the first racing lap.
Fueling during the race. According to the rules, the car must stay on the ground and must be fueled first before anything else can be done to it. You can see most of the team is hovering around just waiting for the fuelers to finish.
Fueling is done and now it's time for the tires --
The Champion Audi at a pit-stop. That's Johnny Herbert driving. Notice the vents broken out over the tire -- either from a flat tire or road debris. The size/number of vents change the down force on the front of the car. With the vents broken out, the handling of the car changes. Apparently the handling was ok as this car went on to win first overall.
Kelly Collins - one of the factory Corvette drivers. That carbon fiber thing on his shoulder is a HANS device. You can see the wing in the back is attached to his helmet with straps. His shoulder harness goes over the piece on his shoulder. During an impact, this device restrains your helmet and keeps if from snapping forward by mechanically attaching your helmet to your shoulder harnesses. Assuming your helmet is fitted properly, that prevents your head from snapping forward as well. Obviously, an open face helmet won't work with this device.
A travel day - Commerce GA to Memphis TN - 450 miles. I leave Commerce at 6:30 am (EST) and am set up in Memphis by 3:00 pm (CST) at the Memphis-Graceland RV Park right between Blue Suede Lane and Don't be Cruel Lane about 50 yards from the back parking lot of Graceland. I'm beat. I waste the remainder of the day with rest and planning for tomorrow.