Race Week Preview: Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line
September 03, 2018 | By Zach Hudson, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Race Week is back at the Brickyard as NASCAR returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 25th time at the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line. To commemorate this historic milestone, IMS and NASCAR have amped up the week with an exciting lineup of races, concerts and much more! Let’s break down all of the events on and off the track that will be sure to rev up your engines for Race Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by NOS Energy Drink (Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 5-6)
Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is going to its roots Wednesday, Sept. 5 and Thursday, Sept. 6 as the best short-track racers and select NASCAR drivers will compete on the new quarter-mile clay oval inside Turn 3. The event is already making history, as a record-setting 118 entries have signed up to compete at the Racing Capital of the World.
Gates open at 4 p.m. both nights, with Reserved Seat and General Admission tickets available via IMS.com and IMS Ticket Office. Reserved Seat ticketholders can purchase Pit Passes, allowing them to roam the pits with drivers and teams. Parking will be available in Lot 7 (North 40), and guests should use 30th Street to enter the facility. Please plan to pay in cash at the lots. Don’t forget: Coolers are not allowed inside the gates for this event.
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Lilly Diabetes 250 Practice, NASCAR Hauler Parade (Friday, Sept. 7)
Opening day for NASCAR weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway starts off with the young guns of the NASCAR XFINITY Series preparing to take on the veterans during practice for the Lilly Diabetes 250. Gates open for practice at 11 a.m., with cars hitting the track at 1 p.m. Parking is available in lots 1B, 2, 3G, 7 and Main Gate. Please plan to pay in cash at the lots.
Once practice concludes, make your way to Main Street in Speedway for the annual NASCAR Hauler Parade. The free event features games for kids, live music, NASCAR driver appearances and the chance to see NASCAR haulers up close and personal as they head to the Brickyard.
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NASCAR Practice, Qualifying, Lilly Diabetes 250 (Saturday, Sept. 8)
Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is packed with events on and off the track. Let’s take a look at the on-track action. Saturday is your first day to see the stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series prepare for the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line. Gates open at 8 a.m. with a full lineup of practice, qualifying and racing. Here is the quick breakdown of the schedule:
- 10:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice
- 11:45 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Qualifying
- 1:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice
- 3:20 p.m.: Green Flag for the Lilly Diabetes 250 (100 laps)
- 6:15 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying
Reserved Seat and General Admission tickets are available through IMS.com and IMS Ticket Office. Parking is available in Lots 1B, 2, 3G, 7 and Main Gate. Please plan to pay in cash at the lots or visit the IMS Ticket Office for reserved parking.
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FGL Fest (Sept. 8)
Get ready for a full day of music as global entertainers Florida Georgia Line are headlining the inaugural FGL Fest. The revved-up lineup also features Cole Swindell, Nelly, Raelynn, Jillian Jacqueline, Mason Ramsey, Riley Green and Stephanie Quayle. Concert gates open at 2 p.m., and you must have an FGL Fest concert ticket to enter the concert area located in the Turn 4 infield. Tickets start at $45.
Parking is free with your FGL Fest ticket inside Lot 7, located on the north side of the facility, and guests should use 30th Street to enter the parking lot. If you plan to use rideshare options, you will need to be dropped off at Lot 1A along Georgetown Road and 25th Street. Don’t forget: Coolers are not allowed in the FGL Fest concert area.
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Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line (Sept. 9)
The final 400 miles of NASCAR’s regular season comes down to 3 feet of bricks at the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line. See who will be crowned regular-season champion and who will claim their spot in the Playoffs. Tickets are still available and start at $35, but act fast as prices increase on Race Day.
Gates open for Race Day at 10 a.m., with pre-race ceremonies beginning at 1 p.m., all leading up to green flag at 2 p.m. Parking lots open at 9 a.m. and are available in many lots around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Please plan to pay in cash at the lot or visit the IMS Ticket Office to pre-purchase reserved parking. Be sure to check our Directions page for the latest street closures for Race Day. IMS offers an off-site shuttle service that provides round-trip access to the track on Race Day.
Buy Tickets | View Schedule | View Parking & Camping | View Gate Regulations