Looking for some advice please? I'm fulfilling a lifelong ambition and coming over over (I'm a Brit) to see the Indy 500 next month. Any info you guys can pass on would be really helpful and very gratefully received.

Since I'm a complete newbie at this, the kind of things I'd like to know are:
- Is there anything in the few days leading up to race day I really need to make effort to get to see - eg practice, qualifying, concerts etc
- Any tips for parking - which area is best, how to avoid getting blocked in etc?
- I can see the gates open real early - what time should I try to arrive on race day?
- Based on the number of fans going, I guess the traffic is going to be heavy? Any tips & hints? How long to get clear of the track/city?
- I guess the price of the tickets reflects the quality of the seats, but any extra advice would be appreciated. I presume the cheap infield seats mean the view is poor? If I just bought admission but no seats what can I see (if anything)?

UK Newbie

[TQ97]

I'm sure there will be plenty of responses, but off the top of my head, here are a couple answers.

Qualifying, is a whole week before hand, so unless you're getting here that early, don't worry about. Carb day is cool as the final day of tuneups and I belive a 3 Doors Down concert this year. It's always a big party atmosphere. There are numerous different open wheel races in the days leading up to the 500 as well. Anderson has USAC Sprint Cars the Wednesday before, Champ Cars at the Indy Mile on Friday night, then on Saturday ORP will have the Night Before the 500 with USAC Midgets and the Little 500 at Anderson is Sprint Cars, I also believe MSCS Sprints are at Lawrenceburg that night, lots of options.

Since this is your first time, and might be your only one, I would get there early, 7 am maybe, you'll miss most of the traffic. Gives you lots of time to soak things in, view the pre race ceremonies which there are quite a bit of and walks the grounds for souvenirs, etc. Unless you leave early, count on probably 2 hours, or just hanging out and people watch and the let the crowd thin out before you try and leave.

[sceckert]

If you have the opportunity to get Southwest Vista tickets, they are generally considered the best. The rows begin to double-letter the higher you go, so if the seats are in, say, Row AA, or JJ, etc. those are quite good. Try to get there early and seek shade often, as the day will drain you if the sun remains out all day. Hopefully, the bulk of the construction in the surrounding area will be completed, but it is a possibility that traffic will be as bad as any you have ever encountered, so bear that in mind. The neighborhood immediately around the track is a genuinely good place to find adequate parking (for a fee, generally, unless you're lucky-but reasonable fees) that won't have you parked in.
An early "Welcome to Indy" to you, sir.

:greenflag: Why would us Americans give you Brits any help at all? Thanks to Brabham and CHapman we have lost our connection to what Indycars really are: rear engined raodsters and uprights that put on the best racing at that track. Forget it. Ain't helping you. :redflag: :O: Yes that was sarcasm. ALways have to give the Brits hell for those things but I mean it in completely joking terms. Hey, you have given us Monty Python and Spinal Tap so You aren't all that bad. :checkered:

Okay for some real help now. I would highly recommend the Silver Crown cars at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on May 22 and then get to Anderson (a little drive up 69 from Indy) for the Little 500 the night before the Indy 500. Both are excellent races and both have nonstop action provided the Silver Crown cars can get rid of that rain curse.

[ClaytonYeley]

First off you can NOT go wrong if you are at IMS on May 24. Let me tell you a little about the traffic situation we see every year. Indy does a great job with traffic, it takes less time for us get out of the Indianapolis 500 than it does to get of the Kentucky Speedway IndyCar race. We pay 10 bucks to park at a lady’s house that lives in the neighborhood behind turn four. It takes us about 15 min to walk to our seats in the North West Vista. I must include that we stay for every lap of the race. I will say that I don’t know of a bad seat in the NW Vista. I’ve told quite a few people about my friend that bought a General Admission ticket at the gate on race day for $20. He sat on a viewing mound and said he had a good view of the whole turn he was in and had a great time.

[pgray]

First thing , spend some time at the IMS web-site... http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com ...to familiarize yourself with the event. Go to the dropdown box/windows for Tickets ( also see Directions & Parking in this window ) ; and the window for Schedule.

You will find that 13 of 29 reserved sections/stands are already SOLD OUT. Order your tickets now. If you are coming with others , I think you'll be much more satisfied with having nice reserved seats. I would only recommend a general admission ticket to someone coming alone , for the first time , to have the freedom to walk and move around during the event. Less likely to feel alone as you will meet people.

When purchasing reserved seating also inquire about a parking pass ( one per car ) for the parking lots along Georgetown Road ( see Track Map ). These lots are all very convenient to all front straight seating , which I highly recommend ( A,B,C,E,H,J or Paddock ). Your ticket and parking pass will also include printed driving directions to those parking lots from whatever location you are traveling.

The track opens at 6am on race morning. You'll hear the 6am opening "bomb" go off ! Come in early !
If you're at the track the day before , the public drivers meeting at 10:30am is interesting.
Buy a program ( on race day ) for $10.00. It will include the starting line-up.
Get a "Bloody Mary" ( add an extra touch of Hot Sauce ) and an "Indy Dog" ( mustard and onion ) early to get your day started.
You'll want another later !
Don't forget your camera. Take pictures of everything !

This is a day that you will cherish for the rest of your life !
Welcome to "the Greatest Spectacle in Racing" !!

[Joe Whisler]

Only thing I can think to add is to invest in a nice scanner with head phones. It always helps me to follow what's going on. If your seat happens to be in front of one of the viewing screens, that's also a plus.

[Gregg]

You will probably want to take in Carb day (Fri May 22). Final practice before the Indy 500, pit stop competition and if I'm not wrong, the concert all in the same day. If you can somehow swing a garage pass it would be a definate plus. And, of course, a shameless plug about attending the Little 500 in Anderson just up the road, the Night before the 500 at ORP and the weekly show at Bloomington speedway, not far away, but I digress. Have a great time.

[LEADERS EDGE]

Something I enjoy to do, although it was probably much more fun when the hotel was there; I enjoy eating at what was once called the hotel breakfast buffet before the race. I guess it is now the banquet facilities but anyone can go and anyone can be seen. You never know who you will run into in there.

Once I was standing in the front of the line when Tom Carnegie came up and asked if I minded if he went before me. The hostess informed him that I was next and that he would have to wait his turn. I then politely informed the hostess that I thought Mr.Carnegie was probably needed for some important duties in a little while and told her that it was absolutely O.K. with me if he went ahead of me. He smiled and said:"Thanks kid" as the women started to lead him to his table. Although I was around 33 at the time, I did feel like a kid and that was pretty cool.

Many people enjoy going to Anderson for the Little 500. I personally enjoy the Night before the 500 at Raceway Park a little more, but they are both good.

Whatever you do; enjoy yourself, comeback next year and bring a friend.

Hey thanks for the quick responses guys. It's great to see so many friendly fellow Motorsport enthusiasts around willing to help out a Limey like me!

So we've now booked flights and we should be there for Carb Day. We're also going to try and get to Anderson for the Little 500. Getting up at 7am for race day probably won't be a problem since (as my gf pointed out) we'll probably still be jet-lagged

We have yet to book our seats and as pgray pointed out some stands are sold out already (obviously those with best view I assume). We're just trying to select a stand before they sell out - advice from you guys suggests either pit straights, SW or NW Vista - do I assume it's really down to personal preference as to which is the "best" seat?

Gotta say btw that we are REALLY looking forward to Indy - it's the start of our US trip and something I've personally wanted to do for many years!

Thanks again

UK Newbie

PS ditrywhiteboy - I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise personally and sincerely for the actions of Brabaham and Lotus