500 First Timer
 

Hey everyone, new here. My wife and I are headed to the 500 for the first time and I was told to come to this site to get ideas for the week leading up to it. Any suggestions for food, racing, and other forms of entertainment would be greatly appreciated! We are planning on hitting up a bunch of tracks on our way down from North Dakota. Thanks in advance!

so far we're thinking on hitting knoxville on the way down, then Angell Park, circle city usac show, bloomington, little 500 or carb night, and then the 500.

Gas City Friday, little 500 Saturday and Kokomo Sunday night is my schedule. As far food Kokomo has a lot of great food.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Buy little 500 tickets in advance if going. usually sells out by mid afternoon if not prior to race day. Really a race everyone should see at least once and have a race monitor app to help keep track of who's on what lap. Not too hard to do untill the pit stops happen and that happens at least twice. Only sprint car race with pit stops. It's a hoot.

Also a lot of sun block for the weekend and prepare for anything, from cold to hot to thunderstorms.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

I'm liking the USAC Silver Crown series at IRP on Friday night

8:05 PM - Indy Pro 2000 Freedom 90 Race
9:05 PM – USAC Midget Race
9:35 PM – USAC Silver Crown Race

Re: 500 First Timer
 

IRP Friday night, Little 500 Saturday, Indy 500 and Kokomo on Sunday

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Friday Bloomington MSCS Sprint Cars
Saturday Lincoln Park MSCS Sprint Cars
Sunday afternoon Indy 500
Sunday night Kokomo Sprint Cars

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Monday Lawrenceburg World of Outlaws

Everybody’s taste is different but for me i am in the Gas City. Little 500, Indy 500, and #GYATK club myself.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

When are you going to arrive in Indy? It sounds like you are going to be there very early in the week.

I would definitely make going to the Indy Museum a must.

Don't have any information about it, but are there any shop tours open that week?

Also, be sure that you have a scanner for the race. The track is so large that you have no idea what is happening unless it happens in front of you. Also, when the lineup card is published spend some time learning the cars. They fly buy you so fast that it is hard to pick up the cars unless you have some knowledge before hand.

I grew up listening to the 500 on the radio and I still think of it as a must have for the race even though I've been attending for the past two decades. A small pocket radio with ear buds has replaced the big ear muffs with the radio dial.
In addition to the museum, I'd recommend the short stroll through Speedway to Charlie Brown's for breakfast or lunch. Lots to see and do on this little strip.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

I agree with a visit to Charlie Browns for breakfast or lunch.

Originally Posted by addictedtodirt:
I grew up listening to the 500 on the radio and I still think of it as a must have for the race even though I've been attending for the past two decades. A small pocket radio with ear buds has replaced the big ear muffs with the radio dial.
In addition to the museum, I'd recommend the short stroll through Speedway to Charlie Brown's for breakfast or lunch. Lots to see and do on this little strip.

If you do have time to kill while in Speedway hit the Big Woods brewing and get the pulled pork nachos you will be pleasantly surprised. Also Tacos and Tequila for your mexican fix and Barbecue and Bourbon for good eats. Sarah Fisher has an indoor karting facility there on Main St. as well. If you are into coneys, malts, and onion rings go around the corner onto 10th. St. and visit the Mug-n-Bun. Those are all the happening spots in Speedway other than Daredevil Brewing. Enjoy your trip to Indy i hope you have a great time. Myself i have seen every 500 since 1965 except the Covid closure year.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

For just staying in the greater Indianapolis area that week you have 2 nights of USAC sprints at circle city Wednesday and Thursday. Carb day Friday at the speedway. That is a great way to get familiar with the 500 cars and drivers. Friday evening USAC midgets and silver crown features at IRP. Saturday a huge parade downtown that has all the 500 starters in it. The 500 on Sunday.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

If you would like 'Ribs Fit For a King", let me suggest King Ribs on 16th St. No designer, dry rub, fusion pretense here. Just rib tips, swimming in smoky barbeque sauce, collard greens, and mac 'n cheese. Ask for extra napkins...

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Buy little 500 tickets in advance if going. usually sells out by mid afternoon if not prior to race day. Really a race everyone should see at least once and have a race monitor app to help keep track of who's on what lap. Not too hard to do untill the pit stops happen and that happens at least twice. Only sprint car race with pit stops. It's a hoot.

Also a lot of sun block for the weekend and prepare for anything, from cold to hot to thunderstorms.

If you DON'T have a race monitor app, you'll have NO idea what's going on! :14:

Re: 500 First Timer
 

is it possible for a person to attend the 500 parade and still make it to the little 500?

On your way to Angell Park you’ll want to stop and grab some New Glarus spotted cow beer. It’s only sold in Wisconsin and a favorite in the region. Wisconsin cheese is also a must. You’ll probably drive through Dubuque Iowa on your way so there is Gile cheese in Cuba City just off route. Or, Mouse House in Sun Prairie and just north of that in De Forrest is Ehlenbach’s. One of my favorite things to do is have a spotted cow and hunk of real Wisconsin cheese in the parking lot of Angell Park right before the races! Bring a bottle opener. Angell Park isn’t quite what it used to be since they moved in the inner barrier of the track and track prep became less than desirable the second half of last season. Complaints seemed to fall on deaf ears but maybe they can find a happy medium this season. It’s still a pretty cool place to go and I’m planning on the USAC sprint race there in June if USAC doesn’t lose all its participation by then.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Originally Posted by north star:
is it possible for a person to attend the 500 parade and still make it to the little 500?

Parade is on Saturday starting around noon. Anderson is a little under an hour from downtown Indy so you'll have time.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

The other thing if you wanted something to do on Thursday afternoon, Little 500 qualifying is free and kind of fun. You seem to have a great schedule lined up, I'd add Carb Day on Fri and haul down to Bloomington.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Originally Posted by north star:
is it possible for a person to attend the 500 parade and still make it to the little 500?

The 500 Festival Parade begins at 11:45 AM local time (you need to be in the spot where you'll view the parade by at least 11:00 AM, earlier the better). We've attended the parade a couple of times before the pandemic and if memory serves me the duration is something approaching 2 hours. That would have you heading to Anderson for the Little 5 by approximately 1:45 PM. Keep in mind that the traffic can be rather congested after the parade. Without traffic incumbrances drivetime from downtown Indianapolis to Anderson Speedway is approximately 1.25 hours. If you hustle you should be able to get to the Little 500 with some time to spare.

Be advised that the parade draws about 300,000 people so traffic will be your biggest hindrance to doing both events. Quickly getting on the road with good route planning and you should be good to go in regards to doing both events.

Have fun!!

Re: 500 First Timer
 

The Little 500 is a Saturday night event-nothing happens on track during the day other than a brief warm-up at 4:30. They usually have an autograph session around 5:30 or 6:00 pm, pre-race ceremonies/driver intros at 7:00 pm, and they fire the cars at 8:00 pm. Leave your ear protection off for the first few laps, it's quite the sound!!! Race Monitor app on your phone is nice for $4.99, but the speedway scoreboard shows the lap count and top 5 cars, plus the PA announcer runs down the vield during cautions. Make sure you get a tenderloin sandwich at the turn one concession stand at some point. I fyou want an event t-shirt grab one early, they always sell out fast. Strongly recommend purchasing advanced tickets, great Little 500 info on the Anderson Speedway website should have everything you need.

If you’re coming to the Prairie before Indy, you’ll be there for Badger Midgets and the IRA vs All Stars Challenge (5/22). You don’t need to worry about track prep because with all those moisture vacuums on top of the sprints, it doesn’t matter how much water gets put down prior to Sunday evening. They will have it dry before hot laps ends. (Just hope it’s smooth, we don’t like sprint car sized ruts). Bring your lawn chairs and sit in comfort on the front straight terraces, or find a spot in the turn 1 stands and get showered with clay while it lasts. It’s a tradition.

Allow yourself a little time beforehand to see the names and plaques at the National Midget HOF in turns 1&2. I’ve always got my head down thrashing on something, so I honestly never get to sample the concessions, but I’m told the pit shack cheeseburgers taste great, and every night ends well with a cold PBR. When we leave, we’re headed east, so a late night stop at The Pine Cone in Johnson Creek is SOP. Don’t worry about staying at the track too long and getting there too late, they never close. There are literally no locks on the door. For some quality (surly) midwestern overnight waitressing, ask to sit in Kathy’s section.

Of course, Sun Prairie is a midget town, and I’m told midgeteers like to imbibe on occasion (any occasion), so I suppose there are places nearby to indulge in that activity as well. Of course, we wouldn’t know about such things…

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Originally Posted by ISF:
The 500 Festival Parade begins at 11:45 AM local time (you need to be in the spot where you'll view the parade by at least 11:00 AM, earlier the better). We've attended the parade a couple of times before the pandemic and if memory serves me the duration is something approaching 2 hours. That would have you heading to Anderson for the Little 5 by approximately 1:45 PM. Keep in mind that the traffic can be rather congested after the parade. Without traffic incumbrances drivetime from downtown Indianapolis to Anderson Speedway is approximately 1.25 hours. If you hustle you should be able to get to the Little 500 with some time to spare.

Be advised that the parade draws about 300,000 people so traffic will be your biggest hindrance to doing both events. Quickly getting on the road with good route planning and you should be good to go in regards to doing both events.

Have fun!!

I am a sucker for a parade and the Indy 500 parade did not disappoint. I remember doing some research on where to park so that was not to big of an issue. However, getting back to the hotel was an adventure. It was 8-9 years ago that I went and I had an older Garmin navigation unit. Every road that it wanted to take me down to get to the hotel was closed due to the parade. By the time I could find a route to my hotel, I was in a unique part time. I was able to watch the parade and take a tour of Indy's finest crack houses all in the same day. :5::5::5:

Re: 500 First Timer
 

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. I am starting the Friday and Saturday before at Terre Haute, USAC Sprints for the Hulman Classic. Friday pays $5000 to win, Saturday $10,000. Then they are at Circle City $5000 to win on Wednesday, $10,000 to win on Thursday. Friday Carb Day, maybe IRP that night. Little 500 on Saturday night. Kokomo on Sunday night. If my nephew comes up from TN, I will do Indy with him too. Little 500 is can't miss in my opinion.

Originally Posted by addictedtodirt:
I grew up listening to the 500 on the radio and I still think of it as a must have for the race even though I've been attending for the past two decades. A small pocket radio with ear buds has replaced the big ear muffs with the radio dial.
In addition to the museum, I'd recommend the short stroll through Speedway to Charlie Brown's for breakfast or lunch. Lots to see and do on this little strip.

I’d definitely agree on the radio statement. It really helps in keeping up with what is going on. Also, bring sunscreen, otherwise you will definitely get sunburned in the aluminum bleachers.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Yes, the scoreboard at the Little 500 shows laps and top five. Near end of the race, all of em could be on a different lap. Hence Race monitor app. About four years ago. Kody Swanson went two laps down when he ran his tires almost 250 laps and spun. But stopped facing in the right direction and was able to get pushed in and a pit stop and only lost two laps. Made both laps up by and passed em all again for the win.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Originally Posted by north star:
is it possible for a person to attend the 500 parade and still make it to the little 500?

Did it a few years ago and had to wait for out son to get done in the parade. Made it with plenty of time to spare

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Is the drive to Kokomo manageable with the post-500 traffic? This is something I might consider doing this year.

Re: 500 First Timer
 

Originally Posted by sparky:
Is the drive to Kokomo manageable with the post-500 traffic? This is something I might consider doing this year.

We sit in the NE Vista, park in a yard on West 30th Street and head for the car when the winner comes by on his cool down lap. It's about a 15 minute walk to the car. All lanes on 30th are eastbound and the traffic zips along. We turn north on Meridian which turns into Route 31 North and are parked in the lot at Kokomo 1 1/2 to 2 hours after leaving our seats. Never have had a problem. In fact we were always there before Bryan Claussen's bus tour arrived.