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May 30, 2021
The roar of engines returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as drivers of the NTT IndyCar Series prepare for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Enjoy the sights and sounds of May at the Brickyard while seeing your favorite drivers push their cars to the limit at speeds over 220 mph.
When cars round all four corners of the famed 2.5-mile oval, it can only mean one thing: It’s opening day for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge! Veterans who have raced in recent Indianapolis 500 races or are full-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers will get the first opportunity to take laps during a two hour practice session.
INDYCAR requires that all rookies attempting to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge take part in the Rookie Orientation Program. ROP requires that each rookie driver make laps around the 2.5-mile oval at different speed phases to better acquaint themselves with the high-speed oval. ROP teaches the drivers proper car control and the proper racing lines at varying levels of speed. INDYCAR officials and Indy 500 veteran drivers monitor the program and determine when drivers pass each phase of the program.
Don’t miss this day of pure speed! The fastest speeds during the Month of May will be on display on Fast Friday. In the final practice before Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying, cars will receive a turbocharger boost to reach the speeds they will run during qualifying the next two days, and sometimes even faster when turning laps in big packs. The practice charts will offer the best look at who might claim the coveted front row for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, and the on-track speeds will thrill fans.
The Qualifications Order Draw will determine when each driver takes to the track for their four-lap qualifying run Saturday, May 22 during Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying. If a driver needs their backup car, the draw also determines when each backup car gets the opportunity to qualify. This fan event is located in the INDYCAR Fan Village at the IMS Midway.
Four intense laps, 16 perfect corners, 230+ mph speeds. Buckle up, because Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying will have your heart racing! A boost in turbocharger level will see speeds climb during Indy 500 qualifying this year as engine output increases by 45 horsepower. That means the intensity of Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying will be on full display from the start as drivers go all-out at incredible speeds to make the 33-car field for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
Once each driver has made their one guaranteed attempt, they can make multiple four-lap runs as time permits in order to improve their position and make the field for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Each driver will go all-out looking for the fastest, most perfect and mistake-free run to try to lock themselves into the Fast Nine. Drivers who clock in average speeds from positions 10-30 will have their qualifying positions locked in Saturday. Meanwhile, the fastest nine drivers and those who post speeds below 30th position will not rest easy Saturday night, because they will have to do it all again on Sunday as their times get reset for the Fast Nine and Last Row Shootout.
Saturday, May 16 will be intense with competitors battling for one of the 30 locked-in starting positions and a berth in the Fast Nine Shootout the following day. Each entry is guaranteed one attempt and multiple four-lap runs may be made as time permits. Cars in positions 10 through 30 at the end of first-day qualifying on May 18 are locked into those starting spots for the race and will not re-qualify the next day.
Sunday, May 23 will feature two highly competitive battles – for the last three starting positions in the field of 33 and the pole-deciding Fast Nine Shootout to determine the starting order of the first three rows. Sunday’s action will be capped by a practice of nearly three hours that should serve as a preview of the Indianapolis 500. Cars will be trimmed in race setup and running in groups. Free entry for all military personnel with a valid military ID.
Drivers who posted a qualification time below 30th position Saturday will have one more shot to make their cars as fast as possible in Last Row Shootout Practice before they make their final qualifying attempts to lock themselves into the biggest race of the year.
Located in the Pagoda Plaza
Lifelong dreams will be made, hearts will be broken, and fans will be left in awe during the Last Row Shootout Qualifying session, which determines the last three starters of the race. The drivers who qualified below 30th position will have their Saturday qualifying times reset. Each entry is guaranteed one four-lap qualifying attempt.
Once each driver has made an attempt, the track will be open for all Last Row Shootout drivers to make as many attempts as time allows to try to bump each other out of the field and seize one of the last row in the world’s largest single-day sporting event. At the end of the expanded 75-minute session, those who posted the three fastest four-lap average speeds will live out a lifelong dream, while those who are bumped out of the field will be sent home devastated. Elation and heartbreak will be at an all-time high on pit lane as drivers give it everything they have for a spot in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Perfect laps will take the fastest stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the top. The nine fastest drivers from the Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying session Saturday will have their times reset for Sunday. Each driver will get one four-lap qualifying attempt. The fastest drivers in the Fast Nine Shootout will be awarded the best starting spots in the field of 33, and only one driver will go down in history as an Indianapolis 500 pole winner.
The field of 33 for the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is set, and those competing in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will hit the track for the first starting field practice session of the month.
It’s racing. It’s rock and roll. It’s the ultimate turbo boost into the greatest weekend in racing. It’s Miller Lite Carb Day, Friday, May 28! This high-powered party features the final practice for the 105th Indianapolis 500, the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge and the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert, all for one great price. Join all your friends on one of the best days of the year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!
Don’t miss the most exciting practice session of the year! The field of drivers racing in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will have one hour to make their cars race ready during final Indianapolis 500 practice on Miller Lite Carb Day. This one-hour practice session will be full of excitement as drivers will run in heavy traffic with lots of drafting and passing to best simulate race conditions for Sunday.
The top pit crews in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will take center stage during the tournament-style pit stop competition. Two cars will line up side by side on pit lane. When the light turns green, the cars will race into a pit box, where their crew is waiting to simulate a full-service pit stop. Once complete, the drivers will exit the pit box and race to the finish line. The team that performs the quickest service advances to the next round, pending any penalties. The final round is a best-of-three competition between two teams
The Miller Lite Carb Day Concert will turbo-charge Indy 500 weekend once again, the concert following the on track action – all available for one great price!
The day before 33 drivers race 500 miles for glory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Legends Day presented by Firestone honors the immortal names and machines of more than a century of the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday, May 29. This special day in the Month of May features autograph sessions with current and past drivers, historic car laps and the Firestone Legends Day Concert headlined by TBD.
This autograph session located in Pagoda Plaza, includes the entire 33 starters for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Race fans can choose one table of drivers to receive autographs from. Each table includes three drivers and every fan in line for that table will receive autographs from all three drivers. Lines are limited to a number of fans and will close once they reach maximum occupancy.
Drivers participating in the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will receive final instructions and awards in the public drivers’ meeting on pit lane. This is the final race activity at IMS before the race Sunday and the last chance for fans to see their favorite drivers before Race Day.
Check back later for artist announcements
Thirty-three drivers. 200 laps. 500 miles. One bottle of cold milk. The only thing missing from this magical Indianapolis 500 mix is you. Don't miss out on another incredible edition of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
The ultimate party in motorsports – the Snake Pit presented by Coors Light – is back on Indianapolis 500 Race Day as the launching pad for a sizzling summer. You don’t want to miss this festival of fun, friends and some of the greatest live EDM acts on Earth. The perfect party is waiting for you!