Social Media Keeping Indy Fans More Connected Than Ever

Social media sites Facebook and Twitter are taking fans closer to the Indianapolis 500 than ever.

2009 '500' Most Accessible Sports Event In History

By Ron Green
indianapolismotorspeedway.com
Saturday, May 16, 2009

What was on Tony Kanaan's mind when he struggled to get his car up to speed during the first week of practice for the 2009 Indianapolis 500?

Fans who follow Kanaan in the exploding social media scene know because the likable Brazilian was sending "tweets" during his roller-coaster week.

The worldwide social media revolution has arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as Indianapolis 500 teams, drivers and officials are using popular Web sites Facebook and Twitter to communicate with fans in a unique way about "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

There are hundreds of stories circling around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, both on the famous 2.5-mile oval and in Gasoline Alley, during the Indianapolis 500.

Combined with live streaming video, timing and scoring, blogs and television coverage, the burgeoning social media phenomenon of Facebook, Twitter and MySpace has given fans around the world unparalleled information about everything that takes place during the Month of May at Indy.

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With so many personalities providing information from the cockpits, garages, media centers and meeting rooms, the 2009 Indianapolis 500 is becoming the most accessible event in sports history.

Many motorsports and non-racing bloggers are covering the Indianapolis 500 live from the track this year. Chase Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year candidate Stanton Barrett also is writing a daily blog, "Chasing Stanton," at www.indy500.com as he describes from behind the scenes what it's like for a driver to attempt to compete in the world's greatest auto race for the first time.

The popular "IndyCast" video blog, hosted by Pat Sullivan, is providing interesting, behind the scenes features of life at the track for three weeks.

Users of mobile devices are getting Indy 500-specific event alerts, traffic updates, offers, race results, live timing and scoring, videos, breaking news and more for free through Indy 500 Mobile. To do this, simply text the phrase INDY500 to 234500 or visit http://m.brickyard.com on a mobile device. Standard messaging rates may apply.

Features include SMS alerts about the race and video, breaking news, event-related happenings such as traffic, special events and concerts, live timing and scoring, mobile video, fan trivia, daily track activity schedule, local weather and more.

Indy 500 Mobile is based on IndyCar Mobile, the 2009 Webby Award Nominee for Best Sports Mobile application.

Facebook (www.facebook.com), with more than 200 million active users, is described as an online social utility to help people communicate with family and friends. Users are able to post unlimited photos, videos and text to their page to share with other users.

Twitter (www.twitter.com) is a service for friends, family and co-workers to stay in touch and connected in real-time by answering the question of "What are you doing?" Answers must be kept to a minimum of 140 characters in length. Twitter users can send "tweets" with mobile devices, instant messaging or on the Web.

Fans can keep current during Race Week by following Facebook postings and Twitter "tweets" from a variety of personalities and sources, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To find Facebook pages, enter the names in the list below in the search field at www.facebook.com. To find Twitter users, enter the addresses in the list below into a Web browser.

DRIVERS

Marco Andretti

•Twitter: twitter.com/andretti26

Stanton Barrett

•Facebook: Stanton Barrett

•Twitter: twitter.com/stantonbarrett

Ed Carpenter

•Facebook: Ed Carpenter

Sarah Fisher

•Facebook: Sarah Fisher

•Twitter: twitter.com/sarahfisher67

Davey Hamilton

•Twitter: twitter.com/daveyhamilton

James Hinchcliffe (Firestone Indy Lights)

•Twitter: twitter.com/Hinchtown

Ryan Hunter-Reay

•Facebook: Ryan Hunter-Reay Official Fan Page

•Twitter: twitter.com/ryanracing

Tony Kanaan

•Twitter: twitter.com/TonyKanaan

Alex Lloyd

•Twitter: twitter.com/alex_lloyd

Raphael Matos

•Blog: yardbarker.com/users/RaphaelMatos

Mario Moraes

•Twitter: twitter.com/mariomoraesindy

Danica Patrick

•Twitter: twitter.com/danicapatrick

Graham Rahal

•Facebook: Graham Rahal

•Twitter: twitter.com/grahamrahal

Tomas Scheckter

•Twitter: twitter.com/tomasscheckter

Alex Tagliani

•Twitter: twitter.com/tagliani

TEAMS

Bryan Herta Autosport

•Twitter: twitter.com/BHA

Conquest Racing

•Facebook: Conquest Racing

•Twitter: twitter.com/ConquestRacing

Hemelgarn Johnson

•Twitter: twitter.com/HemelgarnRacing

HVM Racing

•Facebook: HVM Racing

•Twitter: twitter.com/HVMracing

KV Racing Technology

•Facebook: KV Racing Technology

•Twitter: twitter.com/kvracing

Luczo Dragon Racing

•Twitter: twitter.com/luczodragon

Penske Racing

•Facebook: Penske Racing

Rubicon Racing

•Twitter: twitter.com/rubiconsports

Sam Schmidt Motorsports

•Twitter: twitter.com/SSM99

Vision Racing

•Facebook: Vision Racing

•Twitter: twitter.com/Visionracing

TRACK, SANCTIONING BODIES

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

•Facebook: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

•Twitter: twitter.com/IndyTalk

•MySpace: www.myspace.com/kissthebricks

IndyCar Series

•Facebook: IndyCar Series

•Twitter: twitter.com/IndyCarNation

•MySpace: www.myspace.com/IndyCarNation

Firestone Indy Lights

•Facebook: Firestone Indy Lights

MEDIA

16th and Georgetown (blog)

•Blog: 16thandgeorgetown.blogspot.com/

•Twitter: twitter.com/16andgeorgetown

93 WIBC/1070 The Fan/97.1 HANK-FM (radio)

•Twitter: twitter.com/500coverage

Autosportradio

•Twitter: twitter.com/autosportradio

Brendon Barnes (blog)

•Blog: www.irlblog.com/

•Twitter: twitter.com/IRLblog

The Beachwood Reporter (blog)

•Blog: www.beachwoodreporter.com

Curt Cavin (Indianapolis Star)

•Blog: blogs.indystar.com/racingexpert

•Twitter: twitter.com/curtcavin

Matt Chamois (blog)

•Blog: aowrtheotherside.blogspot.com

Erik Deckers (blog)

•Blog: laughing-stalk.blogspot.com

•Twitter: twitter.com/edeckers

ESPN

•Twitter: twitter.com/ESPN

Chris Estrada (blog)

•Blog: mvn.com/indyracingrevolution

•Twitter: twitter.com/estradawriting

Furious Wedge (blog)

•Blog: furiouswedge.blogspot.com

•Twitter: twitter.com/FuriousWedge

Crash Gladys (radio)

•Twitter: twitter.com/Crashgladys

Jeff Iannucci (blog)

•Blog: www.mynameisirl.com

•Twitter: twitter.com/MyNameisIRL

Indianapolis Star 500 coverage

•Twitter: twitter.com/the500

Brant James (St. Petersburg Times)

•Twitter: twitter.com/StTweetGrandPrx

Paul Kaminski (Radio)

•Blog: msrpk.blogspot.com

•Twitter: twitter.com/MSRnet

Kohl Kennedy (blog)

•Blog: planet-irl.blogspot.com

•Twitter: twitter.com/planetIRL

Will McCarty (blog)

•Blog: www.isitmayyet.com

•Twitter: twitter.com/Isitmayyet

Paddock Talk (blog)

•Blog: paddocktalk.com

•Twitter: twitter.com/paddocktalk

Jim Pedley (Racin Today)

•Twitter: twitter.com/RacinToday

RaceFanRadio

•Facebook: RaceFanRadiocom

•Twitter: twitter.com/racefanradio

Joe Reedy (The Cincinnati Enquirer)

•Twitter: twitter.com/joereedy

Joel Smith (blog)

•Blog: irlorama.blogspot.com

SPEED

•Twitter: twitter.com/speedtv

SPEEDtv.com

•Twitter: twitter.com/SPEEDtweets

Speedfreaks (radio)

•Twitter: twitter.com/speedfreaks

Tomaso (blog)

•Blog: www.nofenders.net

Trackside Online

•Twitter: twitter.com/tracksideonline

VERSUS

•Twitter: twitter.com/versustv

Dave 'The King" Wilson (radio)

•Twitter: twitter.com/racinirlradio

Bill Zahren (blog)

•Blog: pressdog.typepad.com

•Twitter: twitter.com/pressdog

Steve Zautke (Racing Nation)

•Twitter: twitter.com/racingnation

OTHER

500 Festival

•Twitter: twitter.com/500Festival

IMS Productions

•Twitter: twitter.com/imsproductions

Indy Racing Experience/Sinden

•Twitter: twitter.com/IRE2seater

Paul Ryan (Scott Sharp PR)

•Twitter: twitter.com/paulryan21

Gary Tribolet

•Twitter: twitter.com/garytrib

***

2009 IMS tickets: Established in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. Beginning in 2009, the Speedway celebrates its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the facility in 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2011.

Tickets for the three events in 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - the Indianapolis 500, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP - can be purchased online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.


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