Lohmar-- "We start racing as soon as the pace plane (Jim Booth) says “Gentlemen, you have a race”.  That occurs while we are still on the straight away about 2 - 3 miles before the home pylon.  The race 'officially' starts when we pass the home pylon to begin the first lap.  I believe this picture was taken coming around Turn 5 which is the last turn before the home (front side) Straightaway.  If so, we would have been racing for almost a full lap already at this point.  I had the pole position for the start, and in this picture I am still in the lead (as I was the entire race).  The race course is an oval approximately 5.25 miles around.  We race 5 laps in each of the heat races, and 6 for the medal race."