The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest motorsports race in the world and approximately 350,000 fans have the privilege of attending the big race in person. A plethora of fans get to experience the big race for their first time. While the race can be exciting and fun, the day itself can be extremely stressful if you have no clue what you are doing. I have been attending the 500 for 10 years with the exception of 2020 and have quite the knowledge of the track as well as race day. I have made little list of do’s and don’ts loaded with advice to help make your race day experience one for the books. * This article is intended for advice for those who are attending the race and not the snake pit.
1. DO bring the essentials On race day: there is a list of essentials you are going to need. This list of essentials include 70+ SPF Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and hearing protection! I promise you will want sunscreen that’s at least 70+ SPF. I have used even 50+ in previous races and still ended up with nasty sunburns. I suggest packing your cooler with tons of water as trackside bottles can get very expensive. Don’t forget to dress. On a normal 72° day, shorts and a t-shirt will be plenty comfortable. Don’t forget to frequently check the weather as Indiana weather can change frequently.
2. DO get to the track as early as possible: If this is your first time attending the 500, this is a big one. We leave our hotel from downtown Indy at 4:00 am and a good amount of people have already been parked for hours to get to their spot . The earlier you get to the track, the better as traffic will peak at 8:00 am. Please note that if you are parking infield, get to the track super early as many streets that have access into the track will close early in the morning.
3. DO be patient and take a deep breath: As noted in the previous tip, the earlier you get to the track the better. However, there may be a chance you get caught in the peak of traffic. Be patient and try not to stress too much. Everyone is trying to get in! As for getting out, that will be a nightmare as well. Again, patience is key to getting in and out. Please keep in mind that you can expect to be stuck in traffic for up to 8 or 9 hours as this was the case last year. Please note that if you are parked infield, you will be delayed in leaving as IMS let’s pedestrians leave before allowing infield traffic to leave.
4. DO be prepared to spend a lot of money on race day: Bring your own food and beverage if you want to save money.Bring $150-$200 if you want food, beverage, alcohol, and souvenirs as these will get very expensive. Be prepared to spend up to $20 for meals, $10 for beverages, and $10 for alcohol. If this is too much, there’s always the option of bringing your own food and beverage in as this is allowed. Stock up your own cooler with plenty of booze. * I am not encouraging drinking however, should you drink, DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE! Tip: If you choose to eat at the track, there are tons of small businesses who are at the track besides the IMS vendors. Support local vendors. *Tip 2: Stop by Jack’s donut shop and pick up a dozen of Donuts so you have a little breakfast.
5. DO be prepared for A LOT of walking: Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a 2.5 mile oval with the straightaways being 1100 yards long. That’s 11 football fields. Make no mistake. You will be doing a ton of walking, especially if you are walking from the north side to the south side of the track. Tip: Definitely wear tennis shoes as they will be your best friend.
6. DON’T disrespect the yellow shirt track employees: The track workers commonly known as yellow shirts are your lifeline at the track. They are there to help you and answer questions. Do not disrespect them or give them a hard time. You might encounter some who may seem snobby or crabby, but keep in mind they are simply tired and exhausted and there are some fans who will go out of their way to give these workers a hard time or make their job more difficult. Don’t be that race fan that does that.
7. DON’T miss the pre race ceremonies: Make sure you get to your seats early so you can witness the pre-race ceremonies. There’s some sort of tradition that takes place all morning, but the main ones usually start to take place approximately an hour to an hour and a half before the green flag.
8. DON’T bring cash as Indianapolis Motor Speedway is cashless. While they do have cash to prepaid card machines, I am unsure if they have a fee for a transaction as I personally have never used one. With that being said, you will not be able to pay for anything with cash at the track with the exception of potentially tipping with cash.
9. DON’T drink too much: as noted before, I am not encouraging drinking. However, should you choose to partake in the activity, don’t drink too much and get too intoxicated. Nobody likes being near a intoxicated person who most likely is arrogant. Besides, I promise you the race is much more fun the more sober you are. Depending on the heat, your stomach may not like it if that’s all you consume so drink plenty of water as well. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. That is not cool and as you are leaving the track, law enforcement will catch you.
10. DON’T leave for your car immediately after the race: One of my favorite features is right after the 500 ends and after the driver celebrates in victory lane, the driver will take a lap around the track. Stay for the extra time and give him a salute when they go by.
11. DO take it all in: This glorious event takes place only once a year. There’s truly nothing like this race. Every race adds a chapter to the story. Take a moment and take it all in. Everything from the moment the cannon fires at 6:00 a.m. to the winter drinking the milk. Most importantly, just know that you are going to have fun.
written by Andrew English / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment
