You would have been at Sebring along with my dad then. He went up until a little later than you. Also to the Indy 500. He was there for the big starting lap wreck. Tire came up into the stands about 5 seats away from where he was sitting.
Jim- I use an electric starter, but I always just bump the engine with it after being sure it isn't hydrolocked. A little bump usually starts most engines anyway.