Karen Branicki doesn’t think twice about the fact that she and her boyfriend traveled nearly 3,000 miles from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to attend the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Having become a race fan in just the last few years, she has traveled all this way to see her favorite drivers James Hinchcliffe and Robert Wickens (Team Canada!).

We spoke to her just an hour before the race to get her thoughts and explanations on why she made such a long journey to be here in St. Pete today.