[jjones752]

The "huge empty area" wasn't empty, and wasn't that huge; there were vehicles parked there (assuming concession workers, staff, some pit parking, since the haulers that couldn't fit in the Southeast pits were over there too). There's no way all of the spectator cars could have fit, plus the snarl that would have been created by everyone trying to get out of the one funnel-like exit would have been massive, especially since there would still need to be parking in the North 40. As it was, the foot traffic spilled over the walkways under the tunnel into the access road. Add a couple hundred cars to the mix (I don't think very many more could have parked inside) and it would have been chaos. there was certainly enough cart and shuttle service to deal with those who couldn't make the walk and traffic out of the North 40 was smooth and orderly, as always.