Best way to do the Indy 500?
Discussion
So me and me and me brother are 6 years apart in age. We decided the go to Le Mans for the first time for my 50th, and kept going back. Looking to do something different for his entry to adulthood, we decided on the Indy 500. Having no experience of major race events in the US, I'd appreciate some advice on the best way of setting up the visit and making the most of the event. Even to the point of is it worthwhile taking in a NASCAR race....
Cheers
Cheers
I've been to the Indy 500 about 15 times and I honestly don't think there is a 'best way'. My first 500 was in 1987 and we just bought $15 infield tickets which didn't give much of a view of the race, but back then, the 'snake-pit' was an eye-opener in itself.
Getting to Indianapolis is not difficult (via Chicago) but during the lead-up to the race finding decent hotel accommodation might be more challenging. Speedway is a bit of a skeevy part of town, so I'd advise against motels in that district, even if you could find one at this point...
If you haven't bought your tickets by now, do so, right now.
Unless you want to spend a lot of money on seats on the front stretch (which are not all that good from an overall viewing perspective), I would suggest high up in the NE or NW vistas. If in NE you can see all of the back straightaway, all of turn 3, all of the north chute and entry to Turn 4. High in NW gives you exit of turn 3, north chute, all of 4 (lots of overtakes here in the 2nd half of the race) and most of the front stretch.
In recent years we have used my brother's RV (he lives in Noblesville IN) and camped in the Coke Lot 1A just to the west of the speedway, arriving on the Wednesday evening. 1A is pretty civilized compared to surrounding campsites that get pretty rowdy. There is a lot going on during the days preceding the race, so I'd advise that this is more than a single day affair.
Also remember that they don't race in the rain, so make sure that your visit allows for a rain delay of a day or two.
It is a very, very spectacular event. I'm sure you will enjoy the whole razzmatazz and the race itself. There are plenty of other folk on here who've attended, but I'll help with any other info if I can.
Turn 4 from the middle of the north chute...
Getting to Indianapolis is not difficult (via Chicago) but during the lead-up to the race finding decent hotel accommodation might be more challenging. Speedway is a bit of a skeevy part of town, so I'd advise against motels in that district, even if you could find one at this point...
If you haven't bought your tickets by now, do so, right now.
Unless you want to spend a lot of money on seats on the front stretch (which are not all that good from an overall viewing perspective), I would suggest high up in the NE or NW vistas. If in NE you can see all of the back straightaway, all of turn 3, all of the north chute and entry to Turn 4. High in NW gives you exit of turn 3, north chute, all of 4 (lots of overtakes here in the 2nd half of the race) and most of the front stretch.
In recent years we have used my brother's RV (he lives in Noblesville IN) and camped in the Coke Lot 1A just to the west of the speedway, arriving on the Wednesday evening. 1A is pretty civilized compared to surrounding campsites that get pretty rowdy. There is a lot going on during the days preceding the race, so I'd advise that this is more than a single day affair.
Also remember that they don't race in the rain, so make sure that your visit allows for a rain delay of a day or two.
It is a very, very spectacular event. I'm sure you will enjoy the whole razzmatazz and the race itself. There are plenty of other folk on here who've attended, but I'll help with any other info if I can.
Turn 4 from the middle of the north chute...
Hi Matt,
Thanks for your reply, very much appreciated. No doubt that I will take you up on your info offer as we start to dig into it more. I take your point about right way. We decided when we did Le Mans the first time that the right way was just to go and enjoy it, and, with some good advice about the things to definitely take in, that's probably what we'll do here,
Cheers
Chris
Thanks for your reply, very much appreciated. No doubt that I will take you up on your info offer as we start to dig into it more. I take your point about right way. We decided when we did Le Mans the first time that the right way was just to go and enjoy it, and, with some good advice about the things to definitely take in, that's probably what we'll do here,
Cheers
Chris
You are very welcome, Chris.
The first time at the 500 is a bit of a mind-melter. Sensory overload is a pretty good descriptor.
Being run on the Memorial Day weekend (end of May) means that the weather can be a little bit disruptive, so you really should factor that into your plans. If it rains everything grinds to a halt.
I'm not sure if this is still the largest single-day spectator event on the planet, but I think it probably is.
Here's a gratuitous shot of the Speedway from above. I fly up to Indy very frequently and an SWA pilot told me that IMS was a very obvious waypoint for approaching flights making a westerly landing - acquisition of the localizer is directly above the Speedway, I understand.
The first time at the 500 is a bit of a mind-melter. Sensory overload is a pretty good descriptor.
Being run on the Memorial Day weekend (end of May) means that the weather can be a little bit disruptive, so you really should factor that into your plans. If it rains everything grinds to a halt.
I'm not sure if this is still the largest single-day spectator event on the planet, but I think it probably is.
Here's a gratuitous shot of the Speedway from above. I fly up to Indy very frequently and an SWA pilot told me that IMS was a very obvious waypoint for approaching flights making a westerly landing - acquisition of the localizer is directly above the Speedway, I understand.
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