INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE DAY SCHEDULE – Sunday, May 30, 2021
- 5 a.m.-1 p.m.: Ticket and Credential Office Open
- 6 a.m.: Public Gates Open
- 8:30 a.m.: All Cars in Pit Lane, Team Pit Boxes
- 9 a.m.: NBCSN On-Air
- 9:04 a.m.: Borg-Warner Trophy March Begins
- 9:15 a.m.: 500 Festival Princess Lap
- 9:45 a.m.: Borg-Warner Trophy March Departs from Band Gate
- 9:57 a.m.: Borg-Warner Trophy March Arrives at Yard of Bricks
- 10:16 a.m.: “On the Banks of the Wabash” – Purdue Band
- 10:28 a.m.: IU Health Green Flag Delivery – Turn 1
- 10:30 a.m.: All Cars on Grid
- 10:37 a.m.: Green Flag & Past Winners’ Lap
- 10:53 a.m.: Historic Race Cars Laps
- 11 a.m.: NBC On-Air
- 11:25 a.m.: Military Appreciation Lap
- 11:32 a.m.: Red Bull Aces Race Begins
- 11:49 a.m.: Indianapolis 500 Driver Introductions
- 12:08 p.m.: Military March
- 12:12 p.m.: “America the Beautiful” – Victory Podium
- 12:15 p.m.: Military Address – U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David Krumm, Victory Podium
- 12:18 p.m.: Presentation of Colors – Trackside Stage
- 12:19 p.m.: Invocation – Archbishop Charles Thompson, Archdiocese of Indianapolis
- 12:20 p.m.: Rifle Volley – Victory Podium
- 12:21 p.m.: “Taps”
- 12:22 p.m.: “God Bless America” – U.S. Navy veteran and gospel music performer Generald Wilson
- 12:26 p.m.: National Anthem – Jimmie Allen
- 12:27 p.m.: First Flyover – U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets from the 187th Fighter Wing
- 12:29 p.m.: “Drivers, To Your Cars” – Dude Perfect Cast
- 12:36 p.m.: “Back Home Again in Indiana” – Jim Cornelison
- 12:37 p.m.: Second Flyover – U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets from the 187th Fighter Wing
- 12:38 p.m.: Command to Start Engines – IMS Chairman Roger Penske, Victory Podium
- 12:45 p.m.: Green Flag, 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 (200 Laps). The flag waved by Milo Ventimiglia.
INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE DAY CEREMONIES
The pre-race ceremonies for the 105th Indianapolis 500 will feature all of the tradition and pageantry beloved by fans Sunday, May 30 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A look at the various ceremonial roles:
- “God Bless America” – U.S. Navy veteran and gospel music performer Generald Wilson will sing this tribute to America.
- “Drivers to your cars” – The five members of social media sensation Dude Perfect will give the traditional command for all 33 drivers to report to their cars.
- “Back Home Again in Indiana” – Chicago Blackhawks national anthem singer Jim Cornelison returns for the fifth consecutive year to sing this Hoosier favorite.
- Flyover – U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets from the 187th Fighter Wing, assigned to Dannelly Field, Alabama, will fly over IMS during the national anthem and after “Back Home Again in Indiana.” The aircraft will match the tribute livery on the No. 47 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet driven by Conor Daly, which pays tribute to the fabled Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II.
- Command To Start Engines – Indianapolis Motor Speedway Chairman Roger Penske will say the most famous words in motorsports.
In previously announced roles, country music star Jimmie Allen will sing the national anthem, Indianapolis 500 veteran and NBC Indy 500 studio analyst Danica Patrick will drive the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible Pace Car, and Emmy Award-nominated actor Milo Ventimiglia will wave the green flag to start the 500-Mile Race at 12:45 p.m. (ET).
Other popular pre-race traditions, including the playing of “Taps,” the rifle volley, and the invocation, also will take place as fans return to IMS for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” after a one-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Live coverage on NBC and the INDYCAR Radio Network starts at 11 a.m. (ET) Sunday.
INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE DAY NOTES
Per the mandate of Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Marion County Public Health Department Director Dr. Virginia A. Caine fan attendance is limited to 40 percent of venue capacity, totaling approximately 135,000 fans.
Spectator viewing mounds will be closed to the general public with no Race Day General Admission tickets sold.
Fans are able to use tunnels 6 and 7 to visit the infield, including Pagoda Plaza (the infield cannot be accessed through tunnels 2 or 10 this May).
The Midway, including the Kids Zone, will not be open this May.
As was the case in 2020, the traditional balloon release will not take place this year due to the pandemic. This is NOT due to the continued attack on the tradition from a local newspaper, The Indianapolis Star.
Fans attending the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 30 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are encouraged to “Plan Ahead” through IMS.com/PlanAhead, an interactive web page that serves as a home base for fans headed to the track this weekend.
2021 INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE DAY MAP
PDF Version of Indianapolis 500 Race Day Map
2021 INDIANAPOLIS 500 PUBLIC PARKING
Parking for the Indianapolis 500 is available in a variety of locations around the track, and infield parking is not available this year. Parking must be purchased in advance. Race fans can visit IMS.com to purchase available parking passes, limited inventory available.
North Zone parking areas are accessible from 30th Street, Lafayette Road, and I-465 via the 38th Street exit.
- Parking areas are: Lot 1A, Lot 1B, Lot 1C, Lot 4, Lot 4 Premium, and Lot 7 (North 40)
West Zone parking areas are accessible from Crawfordsville Road and I-465 via Crawfordsville Road exit.
- Parking areas are: Lot 2, Lot 5, Lot 6, Lot 8, Lot 9, and Gate 1
South Zone parking areas are accessible from 10th Street, Crawfordsville Road, and 16th Street.
- Parking areas are: Lot 3G, Lot 3P, and Main Gate
2021 INDIANAPOLIS 500 CASHLESS OPERATIONS
All IMS concession stands and merchandise locations are cashless this year. Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions. Cash-to-Card machines, which convert paper money onto a temporary debit card, will be located throughout the facility. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted.
2021 INDIANAPOLIS 500 PEDESTRIAN GATE ENTRY
Public pedestrian gates open are: Gate 1, Gate 1B.1, Gate 1C, Gate 2, Gate 3, Gate 4, Gate 5B, Gate 6N, Gate 6S, Gate 6B, Gate 7S, Gate 7 Vehicle, Gate 9, Gate 9A, Gate 10, Gate 10A, Gate 11A, Gate 11B, Gate 11C, Gate 12
IMS MUSEUM
The IMS Museum, located inside Gate 2 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will be open from 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for guests over the age of 62 and $8 for guests ages 6-15. Children 5 and under and Museum members are free.
Race fans can walk to the IMS Museum from the Speedway’s infield, and a free shuttle will run between the IMS Museum and tram stops located at 6th & Hulman and Tunnel 10. Pedestrians on the south end of the racetrack can access the IMS Museum via Gate 2.
IMS Museum visitors must possess an event ticket or credential to enter the Museum. Gate 2 will not be open for parking at the Museum.
2021 INDIANAPOLIS 500 DIGITAL TICKETS
Digital tickets can be accessed on the IMS App or on their smartphone’s web browser. Fans are encouraged to ensure the brightness on their smartphone is turned up before approaching the gate for seamless scanning of their digital ticket. Race fans are also encouraged to visit the IMS Digital Ticket guide to manage their digital tickets and enhance their at-track experience.
2021 INDIANAPOLIS 500 WEEKEND STREET PARKING
Race event parking restrictions in the Town of Speedway will be enforced during the Indianapolis 500. No parking will be allowed on the south and east sides of any street bound by 25th Street on the north, Georgetown Road on the east, Lynhurst Drive on the west, and Crawfordsville Road on the south from 6 p.m. Thursday through 8 p.m. Sunday. Additionally, race fans will not be able to park on Main Street in Speedway between 10th Street and 16th Street on Race Day starting at midnight.
2021 INDIANAPOLIS 500 ROAD CLOSURES
Race fans should be aware of multiple road closures before making their way to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Race Day. Those include:
- Speedway Police Department will close Georgetown Road at 7 a.m. on Race Day to all vehicular traffic. Guests accustomed to entering Gate 7 should enter through Gate 2 or Gate 10. Local residents are encouraged to make provisions for the temporary traffic restriction. Georgetown Road will remain closed until approximately one hour after the race.
- Speedway Police Department also will close 16th Street between Olin Avenue and the roundabout from approximately noon until the end of the race. Additionally, 16th Street will not be accessible from Polco Street, as it will be blocked at 10th Street.
- The Indiana Department of Transportation is reconstructing the I-65/I-70 interchange between the north split and Washington Street in downtown Indianapolis. I-70 eastbound and westbound traffic will be routed around I-465. I-65 northbound and southbound traffic will be routed through the South Split, I-70, and I-465. Drivers southbound on I-65 will not be able to enter westbound I-70, and drivers northbound on I-65 will not be able to enter eastbound I-70.
2021 INDIANAPOLIS 500 STARTING GRID
Download the Printable 2021 Indy 500 Lineup Indianapolis 500 Starting Grid PDF, courtesy of Naptown Buzz.