Frank Giambrone and Alisa Heeber are addicted to all things fast, which is why a day of driving stock cars at the Walt Disney World Speedway ended in a cockpit of an IndyCar.

IRE Fan Focus: A Long Way From Long Island
Indy Racing Experience earns new fans with pair of speed freaks from New York

Alisa Heeber and Frank Giambrone just figured it was time to get away from their home in Long Island, N.Y., and head south for a winter vacation, and to do so fast.  That’s because all they ever do is at top speed, evidence by their 2009 yellow Corvette rental car and their recent trip to the Indy Racing Experience on the grounds of Walt Disney World®.

After taking in what Fort Lauderdale and Key West had to offer, Heeber and Giambrone ventured north to Orlando for more speed.  The couple actually came to the Walt Disney World® Speedway to test out the Richard Petty Driving Experience on Friday, February 6, but left in awe of what the Indy Racing Experience had to offer.

“We were at the Petty school and saw the (Indy Racing Experience) car come out of the trailer and knew we had to drive it,” said Giambrone, a million-dollar shovel operating engineer who spent a year clearing debris at the World Trade Center Ground Zero in New York.

The couple met years ago in a motorcycle shop and have been tied to all things speed ever since.  Heeber noted that Giambrone is a huge NASCAR fan and a former motorcycle drag racer, but could tell he was leaving an IndyCar fan.

“He has the need for speed; he has to do it all,” she said.  “When that car came out, we knew we were staying.”

When asked about the similarities of the two driving experiences he had just done, Gimabrone had a unique response.

“The similarities between the two cars is the speed, but the stock car is a dinosaur compared to the lightning way this reacts.  It’s awesome.  This has been the most of fun behind the wheel of anything in a long time.”

Having arrived for the Richard Petty Driving Experience at 11 a.m. that day, Heeber and Giambrone were going on seven hours at the Walt Disney World® Speedway.  They had a chance to reflect on the day as things finally began to slow down, if in fact that is possible for the two.

“We were here for hours and we did a total of 24 laps on the track,” Gaimbrone said.  “The last eight with you guys were the best.”

The Indy Racing Experience operates daily at the Walt Disney World Speedway and opens for both riding and driving experiences at 4 p.m. ET.  Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) 357-5002. For more information on the Indy Racing Experience, please contact us by phone or submit questions and comments HERE.