Indy 500 schedule for practice on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
Plus a COVID-19 update on bronze badges, face mask requirements, and vaccination checks.
Your source for all things Indy™
by Naptown Buzz
Indy 500 schedule for practice on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
Plus a COVID-19 update on bronze badges, face mask requirements, and vaccination checks.
by Naptown Buzz
TICKETS: Tickets for Indianapolis 500 Practice General Admission seating are $15 and are available for purchase at IMS.com or by walking up at the gates. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN (9 a.m.-6 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 6S, Gate 7 South, Gate 10, Gate 10A
GRANDSTANDS OPEN: B Penthouse (17-25), E Penthouse, E Stand (1-4), Paddock (9-12), Paddock Penthouse (10-20), Tower Terrace (37-42), Tower Terrace ADA
PARKING: Free parking for Indianapolis 500 practice is located in Lot 2 and Lot 7 (North 40). For North 40 parking, fans should enter through Gate 10 from 30th Street. No infield public parking will be allowed in May.
CASHLESS OPERATIONS: All Indianapolis Motor Speedway 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. Parking and gate locations will take cash.
MUSEUM HOURS (9 a.m.-5 p.m.): Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for guests over the age of 62, and $8 for guests 6-15. During open Museum hours, a free shuttle will run between the IMS Museum and tram stops located at 6th & Hulman and Tunnel 10. Visitors should park in open IMS lots and use shuttles to access the Museum. 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.
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS: There will be spacing between customer groups in the grandstands. IMS will have cleaning and sanitation processes in place, with hand sanitizer and washing stations readily available. Face coverings must be worn at IMS per the most recent Marion County Public Health order and the event procedures agreement between IMS and local officials. Following continued consultation with the Marion County Public Health Department, IMS will not be temperature-screening customers upon entry to the facility.
by Naptown Buzz
The Carb Night Classic returns to Lucas Oil Raceway (10267 East, US Hwy 136) on Friday, May 28, 2021, featuring four great racing series on one big night.
The Road to Indy‘s Cooper Tires USF2000 drivers will take to the track first. Indy Pro 2000 will follow while the return of Pavement Midgets and USAC Silver Crown Cars will end the night.
There will be a $5,000 to-win purse for the Pavement Midgets and a $10,000 to win-purse for the USAC Silver Crown.
Lucas Oil Raceway is located at 10267 East, US Hwy 136, Indianapolis, IN 46234.
by Naptown Buzz
LEXINGTON, Ohio – Inspired by the goal to race again and powered by courage, determination, persistence, and perseverance, Robert Wickens returned to the cockpit in a Hyundai Veloster N TCR car on May 4, 2021, for the first time since his horrific IndyCar accident in 2018. Highlighted with triumphant breakthroughs and executed with laser, goal-oriented focus, Wickens completed 989 days of grueling rehabilitation anticipating today’s milestone.
A native of Canada, Robert Wickens, stellar IndyCar debut season featured a pole position, and four podium finishes in addition to the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year title. Having transitioned back to North America from Europe where he was a Formula One test and reserve driver, Wickens’ IndyCar career looked set for championship contention. It was cut short with the horrific accident at Pocono Raceway on August 19, 2018. As a result of the accident, Wickens suffered a thoracic spinal fracture, spinal cord injury, neck fracture, tibia and fibula fractures to both legs, fractures in both hands, a fractured right forearm, fractured elbow, a concussion, four fractured ribs, and a pulmonary contusion in the incident.
Through his relentless regimen of rehabilitation and therapy, Wickens has become a trailblazer in developing new technology and treatment methods for the spinal cord injury community.
SOURCE: Bryan Herta Autosport
by Naptown Buzz
Streets of Detroit Race 1
Streets of Detroit Race 2
Texas Motor Speedway
Road America
Richmond Raceway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
Streets of Toronto
Iowa Speedway
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway
Portland International Raceway
WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca
Streets of St. Petersburg
by Naptown Buzz
INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, March 26, 2020 – The Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge has been rescheduled for Sunday, Aug. 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials from INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) announced today. The 104th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will air live on NBC, with the official green flag time to be announced at a later date.
The GMR Grand Prix will transition to Saturday, July 4 on the IMS road course as part of a historic double-header featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and NASCAR. This first-of-its-kind racing event also will be televised by NBC on Independence Day.
The Indianapolis 500 was originally scheduled for Sunday, May 24, in its traditional spot on the calendar during Memorial Day weekend. The GMR Grand Prix was scheduled to be run on Saturday, May 9.
“The Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is my favorite time of year, and like our fans, I am disappointed that we have had to reschedule the Indianapolis 500,” Roger Penske said. “However, the health and safety of our event participants and spectators is our top priority, and we believe that postponing the event is the responsible decision with the conditions and restrictions we are facing. We will continue to focus on ways we can enhance the customer experience in the months ahead, and I’m confident we will welcome fans with a transformed facility and a global spectacle when we run the world’s greatest race.”
“Memorial Day weekend has always provided Indianapolis 500 fans an opportunity to honor the men and women who have fought and sacrificed for our nation’s freedom,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “This August, we’ll also have a unique and powerful opportunity to honor the contributions and heroism of the doctors, nurses, first responders and National Guard members serving on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. We’re grateful for the patience of our fans as we’ve navigated this situation, and we extend our thanks to NBC for its terrific partnership and diligent work to maximize broadcast coverage with this new schedule.”
On-track action in August will begin at IMS with practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 12-13, followed by Fast Friday on Aug. 14 and Indianapolis 500 Qualifications on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15-16. Each day of qualifications will be televised on NBC, providing more network coverage of qualifications for fans than in 2019. A full broadcast schedule will be released soon.
The following week’s schedule will begin with hot pit-stop practice sessions on Thursday, Aug. 20 and include Indy Lights practice and qualifying. The Indy Lights Freedom 100 race, a significantly expanded Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge and final Indianapolis 500 practice will take place on Friday, Aug. 21 as part of Miller Lite Carb Day, followed by the public drivers’ meeting and full-field autograph session on Saturday, Aug. 22 as part of Legends Day presented by Firestone.
As a result of the schedule changes at IMS, the INDYCAR races scheduled for Aug. 16 and Aug. 22 have been rescheduled. The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio is now scheduled for Aug. 9, and the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway is now scheduled for Aug. 30. An updated 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar is available at this link and can also be found at the bottom of this release.
GMR Grand Prix Makes Historic Move
The GMR Grand Prix will take the green flag Saturday, July 4, before the first NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the IMS road course – the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard. The unique holiday racing lineup will mark the first time that the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will compete at the same track on the same weekend as both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Immediately following the live telecast of the GMR Grand Prix on July 4, NBC will air the first NASCAR race on the IMS road course with the Xfinity Series cars in action at the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard.
“For very good reason, this historic pairing will be circled on the calendar of every motorsports fan,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “We appreciate our friends at NASCAR for their flexibility and support in this matter and will work with them on a memorable, exciting weekend of racing action.”
Tickets already purchased for the Indianapolis 500, GMR Grand Prix and associated on-track days such as Miller Lite Carb Day and Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend will be valid on the rescheduled dates. Individuals already in possession of those tickets should use them for entry. To learn more about the adjusted on-track schedule, review customer FAQ’s and submit questions, fans can visit www.ims.com/COVID19.
Important Indy 500 Race Weekend Concert Update
All concerts scheduled for the original Race Weekend in May have been canceled. This includes REO Speedwagon and Styx on Friday, May 22, Luke Bryan on Saturday, May 23 and Martin Garrix on Sunday, May 24.
This decision was made to provide the maximum flexibility possible to complete the Indianapolis 500 by Sunday, Aug. 23 and provide room for any contingency plans necessary. IMS appreciates the understanding of fans and regrets that the COVID-19 situation has caused the cancellation of these events.
Fans who made concert-specific purchases will be able to access a credit for any IMS event, including the Indy 500, or choose to receive a refund. IMS concert customers will receive further communication on how to exercise their ticketing options.
Enhanced Health and Safety Measures at IMS
IMS and INDYCAR officials will continue to work closely with local, state and federal health representatives to ensure a safe and healthy experience for spectators. Enhanced measures that will be in place once activity resumes at IMS include:
by Naptown Buzz
“We are aware of the CDC’s interim guidance suggesting the postponement of events involving more than 50 people over the next eight weeks. Our priority is to do our part in protecting the public health while still conducting the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge as scheduled on May 24. This continues to be a dynamic situation in which we are monitoring constantly in coordination with federal, state, local and public health officials. We are planning for all contingencies and will be prepared to run the GMR Grand Prix and Indy 500 as the COVID-19 situation permits.”
by Naptown Buzz
“After careful consideration, including regular communication with our event promoters, health officials, and the city administrations in our respective race markets regarding COVID-19, we have made the decision to cancel all NTT INDYCAR Series events through April. This begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg which was to begin today and run through Sunday, March 15 and continues through the AutoNation INDYCAR Challenge at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas which was to take place April 24-26. Although we are disappointed to delay the start to this INDYCAR season and will miss our incredible fans who support us each year in St. Petersburg, Birmingham, Long Beach, and Austin, the safety of our fans, participants, staff, partners, and media will always remain our top priority. We will continue to coordinate with public health experts and government officials as we determine the appropriate plans for resuming our schedule.”
by Naptown Buzz
Award-winning country music superstar Luke Bryan will headline the Firestone Legends Day Concert on Saturday, May 23, the day before the 104th Indianapolis 500.
The concert, which also will feature additional acts to be announced, starts at 3:30 p.m..
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. (ET) Friday, Nov. 1 at IMS.com, by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700, or by visiting the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building. Fans can get early pre-sale access by joining the mailing list at IMS.com/LegendsDay .
General admission tickets start at just $35. A limited number of concert pit tickets are available starting at $75. For the first time in 2020, a limited number of tickets in a new temporary grandstand are available starting at $115, including concert pit access. A very limited supply of exclusive VIP platform tickets also is available for $250, including pit access, snacks, two complimentary drinks, and dedicated bars. Ticket prices will increase as the concert draws closer, so fans are encouraged to buy now.
All concert tickets include admission to the concert and all Legends Day activities that day at IMS, including autograph sessions with current and past Indianapolis 500 drivers, the 104th Indianapolis 500 public drivers meeting, historic race car laps and more.
“The Firestone Legends Day Concert continues to attract the top names in country music every year, and 2020 will be no exception with Luke Bryan headlining the show,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Luke’s high-octane performances will charge up our fans for Race Weekend, and we know they’ll sing along with hit after hit. This show will be a perfect match for ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.'”
This will be Bryan’s second concert at IMS, and first in a decade. He performed as a rising young talent in the Pagoda Plaza on Brickyard 400 weekend in 2010. Since then, Bryan has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the history of country music.
SOURCE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
by Brian Groce
James Hinchcliffe’s Indy 500 Race Bathroom Tip for Drivers