A Dream Fulfilled

Indianapolis - A dream was fulfilled for an Indianapolis man at one of the world's greatest sporting venues on Saturday.

It's a lesson in living life for the moment at 170 miles per hour.

The thrill of a lifetime is a wish granted for Indy 500 race fan Trotty Heck after life took a bad turn.

"They think he has signs of Alzheimer's," said Barb Heck.

Trotty Heck is in the advanced stages of a terrible disease, a disease that doesn't define him. Yet this may be a 70 year old man's defining moment.

"I think it's the greatest show on earth and that's exactly what it is," says Heck.

Trotty has a lifelong fascination with the Indy 500. He attended his first race at age 11 in 1947 as a spectator but now Trotty's about to see how it feels on the other side in one of the world's greatest sporting venues.

Trotty said, "What do you think those three laps will be like. It'll be a panic."

Trotty took 3 laps around the famed oval in a 2 seat Indy Car with Indy Racing League Driver Stephan Gregoire. A group called Never Too Late made it happen. The Indianapolis-based organization grants wishes mostly for the elderly. It's founder, Bob Haverstick heard about Trotty's wish and made it happen.

"The sparkle's back in the eye. They know people, where they are and what they're doing. They're fully engaged in life again. It won't last but it will last long enough to give friends and Trotty a thrill they'll take to the grave. It's awesome," said Haverstick.

At speeds up to 170 miles per hour, a man who has spent the better part of his life watching racing history is for a moment, a part of it.

It took a terrible disease to make a wish come true. But Alzheimer's can't take this moment away from Trotty Heck.

"Are you a happy man? I'm a happy man," Heck responds to a question.

A man who can say he's lived his dream.