The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend is reserved for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and the heroes of our nation, and it always will be. That remains true this year, as we honor those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight and encourage our community to unite virtually to celebrate #500atHome with several activities that tap into the tradition and spirit of Indy 500 Race Day. It all leads up to a unique telecast of the 2019 Indianapolis 500 at 2 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 24 on NBC. Get set to #500atHome with with these activity guides and follow along with all the fun below!
Schedule
All Day - #500atHome Traditions
Will you wake up early? Will you chug an ice cold bottle of milk? Maybe you’ll still pack that cooler full of ice cold Miller Lite. We want you to show us what Race Day looks like for you! Share your Indy 500 traditions on social media as you celebrate #500atHome and get ready for the unique NBC broadcast of the 2019 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
All Day - One Drive to get Back On Track Auction
The INDYCAR "One Drive to get Back On Track" auction comes to a close on virtual Indianapolis 500 Race Day. Be sure to check out the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities up for auction, and support the American Red Cross, All Clear Foundation and Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana.
Bid and Support
All Day: Snake Pit Playlist
As the anticipation builds for NBC’s special presentation of the 2019 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, crank up this epic Snake Pit presented by Coors Light Spotify playlist and blast music from past Snake Pit acts!
Listen Now!
6 a.m. - Cannon Blast at Home
The longest-standing tradition of the Indianapolis 500 is the cannon blast on Race Morning, as an an aerial bomb has signaled the opening of the track on race morning of the event every year since Memorial Day 1911. That tradition will continue this Memorial Day weekend with a virtual cannon blast on IMS social media at 6 a.m.
8 a.m. - Bike the 500
Our friends at Bike Indianapolis are passionate about biking to the “500,” and we want to keep that tradition rolling May 24. In place of biking to the racetrack, we encourage you to start your morning with a 2.5-mile bike ride around your neighborhood – the same distance as one lap around the Racing Capital of the World.
9 a.m. – WTHR Tune-In
WTHR's Dave Calabro will host "Channel 13 Sunrise" from the Racing Capital of the World as he catches up with NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, as well as preview the upcoming NBC presentation: "Indy 500 Special: Back Home Again."
Tune-In
11 a.m. - Brunch with the Brickyard
On Sunday, May 24, support local businesses by heading to a participating restaurant and picking up a Virtual Race Day takeout cooler package. Our friends at Visit Indy have compiled a list of participating locations, which included Gallery Pastry Shop, The District Tap, Traders Point Creamery and many more!
Participating Locations Local Memorial Day Weekend Deals
Noon - 500 Festival Parade On-Air
Relive the magic of the 2019 IPL 500 Festival Parade with WTHR and keep the parade a part of your Memorial Day Weekend tradition as Channel 13 will air last year's parade from Downtown Indianapolis.
1 p.m. - “Back Home Again” At Home
From Jim Nabors to Jim Cornelison and YOU! “Back Home Again in Indiana” is one of the most cherished Indy 500 traditions, and we still want to hear those precious lyrics on May 24. Share your rendition of this special pre-race song on social media for all Hoosiers to hear.
2-6 p.m. (ET) - Indy 500 Special: Back Home Again - NBC
Indianapolis 500 winners Simon Pagenaud and Alexander Rossi will join NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico for an enhanced encore presentation of the 2019 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on NBC, celebrating “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and providing fans with exclusive, new content from the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and honoring the healthcare heroes working on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight.
The enhanced presentation will feature a pre-race conversation on site from Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Tirico, 2019 winner Pagenaud and 2016 winner and last year’s runner-up Rossi alongside the famed Yard of Bricks. Once the green flag drops on the race encore, Pagenaud and Rossi will provide exclusive commentary during the broadcast, sharing their personal perspectives on key moments throughout the race and their memorable back-and-forth battle which punctuated NBC Sports’ inaugural Indy 500 broadcast last year.
Learn More