Friday in Le Mans: Prerace parade and car show thrills crowds

The 24 Hours of Le Mans doesn't start until Saturday at 3 p.m. French time, but as anyone here will tell you, the festivities began much earlier in the week. On Friday, I had the opportunity to visit the Driver's Parade and car show in downtown Le Mans, a five-hour festival that brings out what appeared to be half the town, plus many race enthusiasts from around the globe.

Check out these photos from France, and stop by throughout the day for updates from around the track and out in the crowd at Circuit de la Sarthe. I'll also be tweeting images and quick takes as they happen, so be sure to follow @andrewstoy along with @AutoWeekUSA for the latest from Le Mans.

By Andrew Stoy