Indianapolis Motor Speedway Archives

Indy 500 will allow 135,000 fans in May return

When the Indy 500 returns to its traditional race day May 30, it will mark the country’s largest attended sporting event since the pandemic began. Speedway management, Penske Entertainment, recently announced 135,000 spectators will be allowed to attend the event. The total is about 40 percent of the famed raceway’s capacity. The 2020 Indy 500 was held last August without spectators. To date, the April 18 Alabama football game is currently the highest-attended post-pandemic event with over 47,000 fans. “The number-one thing fans can do to ensure a great race day is get vaccinated as quickly as possible,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said in a statement. “We continue to offer vaccinations at IMS and will be extending

Podcast

#114, Indianapolis Motor Speedway set for driverless race

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:48 — 43.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been the home to many of motorsports’ greatest drivers and races. In less than two years, the renowned racetrack will host another iconic racing event — without drivers. The speedway (IMS) and Energy Systems Network (ESN) recently announced a two-year, $1 million prize competition that will culminate in a head-to-head, high-speed autonomous vehicle race Oct. 23, 2021, around the Speedway’s famed 2.5-mile oval. Matt Peak, director of mobility at Energy Systems Network, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Peak talks with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia about the pending event, The Indy Autonomous