INDIANAPOLIS — As the AES 500 Festival Parade started, thousands were in their seats ready to see their favorite parts of the route.
"The drivers and floats," one kid said.
"The marching bands," another said.
For Mason McKinnon, there's one driver he's keeping an eye on, Josef Newgarden.
"I think it's going to be packed around him getting autographs, but I think it's going to be cool," he said.
His friends and family go to the parade every year and make it a mission to get autographs from all 33 drivers competing in the Indy 500.
"It's awesome, they come every year and we try to make it a tradition,"
While the drivers are a crowd favorite, the group also loves to see the big balloons.
After watching the entire route, McKinnon finally got the moment he's been waiting for.
"Number one, he came to me first," he said.
An autograph and memory he'll have forever.