2011 Indianapolis 500 Tickets On Sale Now
September 21, 2010 | By Paul Kelly
Video | Pace Car Giveaway Photo Gallery
Tickets are on sale for the 2011 Indianapolis 500, the 100th anniversary of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
And it’s safe to say that no 2011 Indy 500 ticket holder was happier Sept. 21 than Bruce Barhydt of Apex, N.C.
Reigning Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti presented Barhydt with 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 Pace Car No. 1 on the famous “Yard of Bricks” at IMS for winning the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Sweepstakes. Barhydt won the 400-horsepower muscle car in a random drawing among fans who reordered or applied for 2011 Indianapolis 500 tickets at www.imstix.com between May 31 and June 14.
“My first reaction was that it was hoax,” Barhydt said about winning the car. “We looked it up online, all the pictures and stuff were there. We looked at the videos. I remember it from the race. That car is just gorgeous.
“The first time we came down (to IMS) was in 1967, and I had a brand-new Camaro that year.”
Said Franchitti: “I know the feeling when I got my first Pace Car. To get a great car like this, to win it, is pretty cool.”
Fans have three ways to buy 2011 Indianapolis 500 tickets, as Race Day ticket prices start at just $20:
•Online: Visit www.imstix.com.
•Phone: Call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area.
•In person: 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.
There are plenty of interesting storylines surrounding “The Most Important Race in History,” including Helio Castroneves’ quest to become just the fourth driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, Franchitti’s attempt to join the small club of drivers who have won the race three times and a variety of special events and activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the race.
“I’m really looking forward to that, with the Centennial coming up,” Franchitti said. “The 100th anniversary of anything is special, but the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 is going to be massive. Coming back as the defending winner, I’m looking forward to it.”