#500Fashion Adds New Look to Same ‘500’ Spirit
August 10, 2020 | By Zach Horrall, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
While the look of the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge might be different, the spirit of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and of #500Fashion will be just as strong.
Each year in the lead-up to the Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway encourages race fans to add extra racing spirit to their everyday look and to incorporate the feel of the “500” into their attire with #500Fashion.
This year, the look and feel of Indy 500 will be different as the race will run on the rescheduled date of Sunday, Aug. 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the race will be run without fans in the venue. Live coverage on NBC starts at 1 p.m. (ET).
That means #500Fashion will take on a new look and meaning that encourages fans to be smart, safe, healthy and fashionable by adapting #500Fashion to their face masks. IMS is encouraging everyone to rock that #500Fashion with neighbors, at the grocery store, at your favorite local restaurant and anywhere else you go as we navigate these unprecedented times.
With face masks required in several places throughout the country, including in Indiana, there’s no reason you shouldn’t adapt your #500Fashion style to your face mask and show your spirit, personality and love for the Indy 500 while safely celebrating the race that has defined our city for over a century.
This is the perfect way to join the State of Indiana’s #MaskUpHoosiers face mask campaign, which asks fellow Hoosiers to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and wear masks to protect not only themselves but loved ones who could easily contract the virus.
Be sure to share your messages on social media and tell the world who you wear your mask for by posting your racing-themed face masks on social media using the hashtags #500Fashion and #MaskUpHoosiers, and by tagging @IMS.
You can decorate face masks to your own style, or you can purchase racing-themed masks at shop.ims.com. For inspiration, check out these #500Fashion masks to rev up your racing spirit!
Suzi Elliott, IMS senior manager of media relations, created her own #500Fashion face mask that represents the “seven stripe” design on the IMS logo, which represents each flag used on the racing circuit. This example shows how easy it is to incorporate the racing spirit into your everyday look!
Lauren Guidotti, IMS manager of community outreach, added more “500” flare to her already racing-themed face mask by embroidering (a new skill learned during quarantine, by the way!) the most famous words in motorsports: “Drivers, start your engines!” This is a great example of how to incorporate your favorite Indy 500 tradition into your #500Fashion mask!
Justin Vining, a local artist and passionate Indianapolis 500 fan, used his artistic talents to hand paint his own #500Fashion face mask with a scene from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Vining used acrylic paint to recreate a scene featuring the famed IMS Pagoda and the iconic Yard of Bricks. This great face mask shows the best way to use your passion to make the perfect #500Fashion masks!
From left, Cruz, Ryder and Makenna Carpenter used their #500FashionMasks to show support for their father, three-time Indianapolis 500 pole sitter and Indianapolis resident Ed Carpenter. These face masks show that #500Fashion doesn’t just have to represent the spirit of the Indy 500 – they can be used to represent your favorite team!
Featured Image:
2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kannan, his wife Lauren and son Max sport the #500Fashion masks they’ll be wearing in August to support Kanaan, who will compete in his “TK Last Lap” tour with a great example of how easy it is to support your favorite driver!