Go to Indianapolis Motor Speedway now, and you'll see a modern, professional facility gearing up for the IndyCar Grand Prix on the 11th May, followed by the Indy 500 at the end of the month.
Should you choose to watch the self-titled 'Biggest Spectacle in Motorsport' - and in terms of scale, it's hard to argue with that title - then you'll see a very different view to that shown above.
This is a capture from the 1968 race coverage, which can be viewed on Youtube, and is a fascinating watch - not just for the racing, but for how much things have changed.
Yes, that is a ditch on the inside of the racetrack. A ditch, full of water. No doubt this was the 'drainage solution' back in 1968, and I guess no race driver ever drowned whilst racing the 500, but back then - it could have happened.
Note also the low walls, on both the inside and outside of the track, and how little protection they offer to cars, drivers, and spectators. No SAFER barriers in this picture.
Of course, these were the 'good old days' before health and safety ruled the world, and where in general people accepted their own mortality - or just refused to think about it, and the impact it might have on others lives.
Nowadays we are more enlightened, aren't we? Well, for a final observation, look at that catch fence. It looks to all intents and purposes like the catch fences you'd see at most oval circuits and racetracks around the world today.
Sure, the modern day materials are probably better, but given that we have known for years the dangers posed by a high speed impact into one of these structures - think Kenny Brack, Dan Wheldon and Robert Wickens - surely a more elegant solution is possible.
Or maybe things haven't changed so much since the 60's and we're all still really good at ignoring an issue until it bites. I'm not into offering a prayer before an IndyCar race, but if I was, I know what it would be; 'Lord, we've got most things covered here, but if you could keep the cars out of the fence, that'd be cool. Amen'.
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