Indianapolis Star Opening Day, ESPN Classic Indy Marathon, More!
May 10, 2010 | By Paul Kelly
The 2010 Indianapolis 500 opens with a full day of activity with Indianapolis Star Opening Day on Saturday, May 15, kicking off a busy schedule of action until Race Day, Sunday, May 30.
Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday, with admission just $5. Children 5 and under are free.
Veteran drivers will be on track from noon-2 p.m. Saturday on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, followed by the first day of the Rookie Orientation Program from 2-6 p.m.
Two concerts will take the spotlight on the Coca-Cola Stage in the Pagoda Plaza. Multi-platinum popular rock powerhouse Everclear will play live at 4 p.m., with opening act Stereo Deluxe at 3 p.m.
Everclear hit the national scene with the hit single “Santa Monica” off its platinum 1995 album, “Sparkle and Fade,” then became internationally acclaimed music figures with their 1997 double-platinum release “So Much for the Afterglow,” which spawned the hits “Everything to Everyone,” “I Will Buy You a New Life” and “Father of Mine.”
Other fan activities include American Dairy Association pin distribution at the Photo Shop in the Pagoda Plaza starting at 11 a.m. and while supplies last. Indianapolis Star motorsports reporter Curt Cavin will appear in an “Ask the Expert” session on the Coca-Cola Stage from 11:30-11:45 a.m., and IMS Historian Donald Davidson will participate in a Q&A session from 2-2:45 p.m. on the Coca-Cola Stage. Davidson will sign autographs from 3-4 p.m. at the Pagoda Plaza.
Indianapolis Star Opening Day starts a stretch of nine consecutive days of track activity through Bump Day, Sunday, May 23, including Pole Day, Saturday, May 22.
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ESPN Classic airing past ‘500s’ all May: ESPN Classic is helping fans gear up for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 by airing highlights of past editions of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” each Monday throughout May.
The network also will televise six past Indianapolis 500’s on Saturday, May 29. The schedule (all times Eastern):
Monday, May 3
3 p.m., 1985 Indianapolis 500
Monday, May 10
3 p.m., 1987 Indianapolis 500
Monday, May 17
3 p.m., 1990 Indianapolis 500
Monday, May 17
5 p.m., 1992 Indianapolis 500
Monday, May 24
1 p.m., 1991 Indianapolis 500
Monday, May 24
3 p.m., 2008 Indianapolis 500
Saturday, May 29
Noon, 1971 Indianapolis 500
Saturday, May 29
2 p.m., 1981 Indianapolis 500
Saturday, May 29
4 p.m., 2001 Indianapolis 500
Saturday, May 29
6 p.m., 2002 Indianapolis 500
Saturday, May 29
8 p.m., 2009 Indianapolis 500
Saturday, May 29
10 p.m., 2005 Indianapolis 500
ABC is televising the Indianapolis 500 for the 46th consecutive year, at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 30.
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Fans can win with IZOD: Fans can win a VIP trip to the 2010 Indianapolis 500 through the IZOD Race to the Party Sweepstakes.
The winner will receive VIP suite tickets, garage and pit passes, travel and accommodations for five days and four nights, a lap in the Pace Car, access to the drivers’ meeting, all-access passes for the event and $5,000 cash.
Enter online at http://racetotheparty.com/.
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Many chances to win in Race to Victory Lane Sweepstakes: Indianapolis 500 fans can win more than 180 prizes, including the grand prize of an all-expenses VIP trip to the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 in 2011, in the Race to Victory Lane 2010 Indianapolis 500® Mile Race Sweepstakes.
Fans can enter the Sweepstakes once per day through May 31, 2010, with two ways to enter. Visit www.indy500.com/race2victory or text SWEEPS to 234500.
The Grand Prize of the Race to Victory Lane 2010 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Sweepstakes is an incredible VIP trip for two to the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in May 2011 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The trip includes round-trip air transportation, four nights’ hotel accommodations, two Race Day tickets and pit and garage passes, post-race Victory Lane access, Indianapolis 500 Miller Lite Carb Day tickets and Public Drivers’ Meeting tickets.
Other prizes include an autographed driver’s suit and helmet, Indy Racing Experience two-seater rides, rounds of golf at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, autographed gloves and shoes, tickets to Indianapolis 500 Race Day, Miller Lite Carb Day, qualification days and practice days, and more.
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Meet A.J. Foyt through Continental Indy 500 auction: A.J. Foyt Racing again is offering an Indianapolis 500 VIP Weekend to the highest bidder in the Continental Airlines Frequent Flyer Program’s Onepass Online Auction.
The winner and a guest will receive two race tickets and two Bronze Badges for the race weekend. They will meet A.J. Foyt and race driver Vitor Meira on Saturday, May 29 in the team’s garage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The winner and guest will attend the Drivers’ Meeting held at the track on the front straightaway near the famed Yard of Bricks start-finish line. They will also be able to tour the garage area as teams make their final preparations.
Bidders can participate through 9:30 a.m. (ET) Monday, May 24 by clicking here.
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Parnelli, Sneva featured at Brickfast at the Brickyard: The 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by ProLiance Energy, will feature Indianapolis 500 winners Parnelli Jones and Tom Sneva at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 22 at the IMS Plaza Pavilion.
Jones was the first Indianapolis 500 driver to top 150 mph and won the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Sneva was the first driver to top 200 mph at Indy and won the race in 1983.
Both Jones and Sneva will take part in a Q&A session hosted by IMS Radio Network anchor Mike King. Guests will enjoy a breakfast, see the crowning of the 500 Festival Queen, take a lap around the famed oval in their vehicle (weather permitting), tour the garages and experience Pole Day qualifying for the 2010 Indianapolis 500.
Corporate and community tables are available for $750. Individual tickets are also available for $60. This event is open to the public.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the 500 Festival at (317) 614-6400 or toll-free at (800) 638-4296. Information is also available online at www.500festival.com.
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2010 Indy 500 tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 30, are on sale now. Race Day ticket prices start at just $20.
Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.