Fans will attend the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, with up to 40 percent of the venue being allowed to be filled, totaling approximately 135,000 fans. The plan for the May 30th, 2021 race at the world’s largest sporting facility – the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana (US) was developed in close consultation with the State and local health officials and the same has been greenlighted by the Marion County Public Health Department.
The ‘Indianapolis Motor Speedway’ stated that apart from limited attendance, further key health and safety measures will be adopted at the 2.5-mile track to ensure the safety of the spectators as the coronavirus dust has not totally settled in the United States.
The 257,327-capacity Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an automobile racing circuit located in Speedway, Indiana, in the United States. It is the home of the Indianapolis 500 (automobile race) and the Brickyard 400 (NASCAR Cup Series points race), and formerly the home of the United States Grand Prix. It is the largest sports venue in the world.
COVID-appropriate behavior:
- Face coverings will be required and enforced throughout the venue;
- Temperature checks will be administered upon public gate entry;
- There will be spacing between customer groups in the grandstands. In addition, spacing will be enforced throughout the venue;
- Spectator viewing mounds will be closed to the general public throughout the Month of May, with no Race Day General Admission tickets sold; and
- Frequent cleaning and sanitation processes will be in place, with hand sanitizer and washing stations readily available.
The ‘Indianapolis Motor Speedway’ quoted the Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles as stating, “Our fans mean everything to us, and we can’t wait to welcome them ‘Back Home Again’ for this year’s Indy 500. The City and State have worked with us to identify the appropriate health and safety precautions so that we can successfully host a limited but very enthusiastic crowd. The health and safety of everyone coming to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, along with Central Indiana and the Hoosier State, have been paramount throughout this process.”
Penske Entertainment President-cum-CEO Mark Miles observed, “The number-one thing fans can do to ensure a great Race Day is get vaccinated as quickly as possible. We continue to offer vaccinations at IMS and will be extending our mass vaccination clinic throughout the Month of May. This is all part of the effort to continue getting Indiana back on track.”
Apart from the planned vaccination days at IMS which is presently underway – from April 24th-30th, vaccinations will now be available on select days from May 1st-27th, with additional details forthcoming. The IMS and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES (premier level of open-wheel racing in North America) will unveil a media campaign to encourage Race Day attendees – and all Hoosiers (a native or inhabitant of the State of Indiana) – to get vaccinated immediately.
Remarked Dr. Virginia Caine, Director and Chief Medical Officer of the Marion County Public Health Department, “The COVID-19 vaccine is the best tool we have to help us return to the activities we love and have missed over the last year, and every day, more members of our community receive the lifesaving protection it offers thanks in part to community partners like Roger Penske and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Our vaccination rates, combined with the outdoor nature of the event, make it possible for fans to return to these hallowed grounds for the Indy 500 this year.”
Added Dr. Caine, “We are grateful to the IMS team for their collaboration throughout this planning process and appreciate their work to ensure vaccines reach our neighbors. I continue to invite everyone in our community 16 and older to visit ourshot.in.gov or call 2-1-1 to sign up for the vaccine.”
Fan info:
- Fans who do not currently have Indy 500 tickets and are interested in attending can apply online at IMS.com. If additional tickets are available, these fans will be given first opportunity to finalize purchases;
- Tickets for all other on-track days remain available, and the same health precautions for gate entry and grandstand access will be in place;
- With no General Admission access to the infield during the Month of May, the Friday, May 28th Carb Day Concert, the Saturday, May 29th Legends Day Concert and the Sunday, May 30th Snake Pit Concert have all been canceled;
- IMS customers still have the option to roll their 2021 purchase into 2022, receiving an IMS event credit rather than attending this year’s race;
- A fan FAQ with additional details about Month of May and Indy 500 items have been posted to IMS.com/PlanAhead; and
- Fans will continue to receive ongoing event information and plan-ahead updates from IMS in the weeks leading into the race.
Views on the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb stated, “Roger Penske and everyone associated with Penske Entertainment and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been incredible partners with us throughout the pandemic. It is high time for fans to return to the greatest motor speedway in the world with this safety plan in place. We’re going to have a great Month of May, so let’s go racing.”
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said, “The announcement demonstrates our continued commitment to safely hosting major events and showcases the strong collaboration between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and public health partners. We’re excited to have Race Day back in May, welcoming fans as we continue to promote vaccination for residents and visitors alike.”
State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box put in, “IMS has been thoughtful and thorough in its approach to ensuring the safety of fans, teams and all who will visit the Speedway during the Month of May. The organization’s commitment to getting thousands of Hoosiers vaccinated is helping us all with a return to normalcy. The State Department of Health is grateful for the efforts of IMS and its partners.”
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