Family Guide

Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG

Tips and Tricks for your family to have a successful Brickyard 400!

A child holds Nascar cars

General Knowledge

  1. The race itself is around 3.5 hours, but the duration changes every year. What remains constant is the green flag around 2:00 pm on race day.  Kids of all ages enjoy pre-race activities which start an hour before the race.  You should plan for at least 45 minutes to get through the gate and to your seat, outside of walking time from your car and inside the facility. The Brickyard 400 Race Day Schedule can be found here.
  2. Expect thousands of fellow spectators on the big day. Make sure to keep an eye on your family.
  3. Stay hydrated! Race days are known for being long and hot, combat this by drinking a lot of water. Cooling stations and water refill stations are available on site. You are welcome to bring your own coolers to the track. You can find cooler and gate regulations here.
  4. Bring your own food and beverages to the Speedway. Coolers smaller than 18" x 15" x 15" are welcome as long as they don't contain glass. You can find cooler and gate regulations here.
  5. Sunscreen is a must during a long day in the sun. Save yourself from potential sunburn.
  6. Protect your ears! NASCAR Cup Series cars are loud. Professionals recommend fans of all ages wear hearing protection during the Brickyard 400. You can bring your own ear protection, but it is also available to rent or buy at the track.
  7. Scope out the map. IMS is a large venue so plan where you will be parking, locate where you will be watching the race and what gate you will be entering through. View Facility Map
  8. Race Day Parking is on sale, and you can find parking options here.
  9. Be prepared to walk. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a huge facility. Make sure to wear walking shoes and comfortable clothes. IMS sits on about 253 acres and the track itself is 2.5 miles. ADA Accessibility information can be found here.
  10. If your children are stroller age, bringing a stroller or wagon is a great idea and a good way to help carry your gear.  Strollers and wagons can be parked under or in front of grandstands. Strollers and Wagons must be collapsable on Brickyard 400 Race Day.
  11. Make a designated meeting point. If you are traveling in multiple cars, be prepared by making a designated meeting point in advance. Having a designated meeting point for your group is always a good idea.
  12. Nursing stations are available at the track; they are located in the basement of the IMS Administration Building and in the White Flag room underneath the Tower Grandstands. Nursing mothers should store their milk in personal coolers.
  13. Stay healthy! First Aid Stations can be found at various locations around IMS.
  14. Lost and found form can be found here.
  15. IMS can be overstimulating, contact a member of the safety patrol to get a sensory deprivation bag.

Hauler Parade

The NASCAR Hauler Parade is back just in time for Brickyard 400 weekend. Join the party on Main Street in Speedway Thursday, July 24 between 5-7 p.m. to see those iconic, colorful NASCAR Haulers roll in loud and proud.

Learn More

Kyle Larson Winning Merch

Celebrate the defending Brickyard 400 presented by PPG winner Kyle Larson with some exclusive merchandise honoring his 2024 race win!

Shop Now

Gate Regulations

Learn about what you can bring in on Race Weekend.

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What to Bring

  1. Stay hydrated! Make sure to bring water on Race Day to help with hot temperatures. Cooling stations and water refill stations are available on site.

  1. Bring your own food and beverages to the Speedway. Lines can be long for concessions. Pack as much food as you would like to avoid the lines, but if you would like to travel light pack snacks and most basic food items can be found on site. Cooler and gate regulations can be found here.

  1. Sunscreen is a must during a long day in the sun. Save yourself from potential sunburn. Other sun protection, such as hats or sunglasses, is also encouraged.

  1. Protect your ears! NASCAR Cup Series cars are loud.

  1. Be prepared to walk! Make sure to wear walking shoes and comfortable clothes.

  1. Strollers are welcome at IMS. Wagons are permitted every day, but they must be collapsable the day of the Brickyard 400. Guests are responsible for making sure items are secured under the grandstands.

  1. Sitting in the stands for four hours can be uncomfortable. Seat cushions are available to rent or buy, but you can also bring one from home.

  1. Diaper bags are permitted as long as they do not contain glass.

  1. Items prohibited at the track can be found here. 

Family Fun at IMS

A child plays the drums
A father and son pose in the grandstand
A child kisses the bricks
A child gets an autograph from a NASCAR Driver
A father and daughter in a tent in the infield
A child kisses the bricks
A son on the shoulders of his father

Trackside Amusement

  1. IMS Museum. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum recently reopened after an extensive renovation. It is a great way to entertain kids before the green flag, and it has air conditioning. Kids 5 & under are admitted free to the museum, Youth (6-16) are $18, and adults are $25. Book tickets here. The museum gift shop is open to the public.

  1. Fan Midway: Fan Midway is an exciting way to interact with NASCAR on event days. Learn more about the Midway here.

  1. Kid Zone: the Kid Zone is a section of the Fan Midway just for kids! Learn more about the Kid Zone here.

  1. Pick a favorite driver. Rooting on your favorite driver makes the race more exciting to follow. Find your favorite driver here.  

  2. Bring a stopwatch to keep track of lap times.

  3. A Pen and paper can help you record how many times your favorite driver has gone to the pits.

  4. Scanners and radios let you listen to broadcasts and get more information about the race. 

  5. Binoculars assist in seeing the cars better from your race watching location.

  6. Shop until you drop! IMS has multiple gift shops around the track that are open on event days, but the gift shop is always open online. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Kids are more than welcome to the race. Kids 15 & under are admitted free in general admission areas with a paying adult. 

  

A schedule of events at the track can be found here.

The Flex ticket will provide the opportunity to move among grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points. 

*Children 15 and under are admitted free with a purchase of an adult Flex ticket. Limit 4 children per adult Flex ticket purchased.

Flex tickets can be purchased here.

The link to ADA services such as assistance carts and elevators and ADA parking and seating can be found here.

  

Also, Sensory deprivation bags are available. They can be found with members of the safety patrol.

If a parent is unable to locate their child, they should find the closest Safety Patrol member and let them know the following information:
 
  • Name
  • Age
  • Last location seen
  • What they are wearing
  • Any other descriptive details: race, height/weight, hair color, etc
 
The Safety Patrol member will relay this information to Pagoda Command and this information will be sent out to all of the Guest Experience staff and public safety. The parent should stay with the Safety Patrol member until reunited with their child.
 
If a parent is unable to locate a member of Safety Patrol, they can always call Pagoda Command directly at (317) 492-5500 and press 5 to speak to a representative.
 
Similar but in the reverse situation, if our staff is approached by a child who cannot find their parents, Safety Patrol is instructed to find a supervisor and stay with the child. They will call Pagoda Command and let them know the same details as above and will not leave the child until reunited with their parents.

Strollers and wagons are welcome at the track.

  

Strollers and wagons must be collapsable the day of the Brickyard 400. 

  

IMS does have uneven terrain which can lead to bumpy conditions for the strollers and wagons.

  

If you choose not to bring a stroller, another option is our free IMS Tram.

Strollers are not permitted in the grandstands. Strollers will be stored underneath the grandstand while guests are in their seat. Guests are responsible for making sure their items are secured underneath the grandstand. Guests are welcome to bring a lock to put on the stroller.

The smoking policy can be found here.

GA Mounds: There is room to move around and spread out, but all spots first come first serve. You are welcome to bring your own blankets and chairs for the mounds as well. There is limited shade except under a few large trees on the grounds. The atmosphere is similar to a picnic or tailgating.

 

Reserved Seats: You do not have to worry about finding a seat because it is reserved.

For reserved seats everyone requires a ticket regardless of age. Prepare for a large number of stairs.

Yes! Kids are welcome to explore the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Kids Zone and the Midway on event days. The Pre Race activities are quite exciting; you can find a schedule of them here.

Ear protection is available to buy on location at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from our gift shops.

Children under the age of 18 are not permitted into the Pits.
Official Indianapolis Motor Speedway Activity Guide

IMS

Official Activity Book
Get Yours Trackside

Official Indianapolis Motor Speedway Activity Guide