Indy race teams help the hungry long after they've left town

WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- The roar of the engines has been silenced since Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile. But what was left behind by the teams who raced during IndyFest, is helping many in need.

Standing over a hot stove, Irwin Brecher was busy putting his organizational skills to feed a number of people.

"I would say about 700 including the team. But usually around a thousand," said Brecher.

Brecher is the chef for the Andretti team -- and is used to cooking for the team and the guests in the team's tent. That requires putting together a menu.

"We have beef stroganoff, and we have rice pilaf, then I have Barramundi, a fish, with lemon butter. I have cajun catfish. And I have pasta, pesto pasta. Then we have a whole salad bar, dessert, cookies, wine, beer, no dancing girls, but everything else we have," said Brecher.

On race day, Jim Sleep, director of food and beverage for Team Penske, figured his kitchen would serve about 205 people. But the number is never exact for any of the kitchens in the infield.

"I'm from the old country. So we hate to throw away anything," said Brecher.

So they don't. Instead...

"You know we try to help out as much as we can. And for us, since we cannot take it with us, it's a really great way to just give it to somebody who really needs it and can do something with it," said Brecher.

That's where the director and chaplain of In Car, Bob Hill, steps in.

"We collect their untouched left over foods. We want to make sure we get it to a local group. Here it's the Salvation Army here in Milwaukee to help feed those that are hungry and poor," said Hill. "We find that so many different parts of the United States that there's people that are homeless, people that are hungry and they can't afford and we get to give them some really nice food."

Since 2002, everything that is prepared and untouched -- is donated. That includes entrees and desserts as well as the other local foods that were purchased -- like fruits, vegetables and even beverages. In all, more than $1.2 million worth of food has been donated.