Two departure times provide more flexibility for fans who want to commute to the track on their bike on Race Day. Read More>
This partnership represents the first time a major athlete's sponsorship has been decided by a vote using blockchain technology. Read More>
e.l.f. is believed to be the first beauty brand to serve as a primary sponsor for an entry in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” as Legge will drive the No. 51 e.l.f. Honda on Sunday, May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Read More>
View images from the shortened first day of the Indianapolis 500 Open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. View Photos>
View images from the once-in-a-lifetime Total Solar Eclipse event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. View Photos>
Josef Newgarden unveils the 2024 Indianapolis 500 Ticket View Photos>
On this episode of Behind the Bricks, IMS President Doug Boles truly goes behind the bricks of the IMS Museum and checks in on the renovation progress. He also gets an exclusive look at the vision of the refreshed Museum, which opens a year from this week. The Museum is a separate entity from IMS and is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Consider supporting the Museum by visiting imsmuseum.org Watch Video>
On this episode of Doug and Drivers, 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi talks his chances to win "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" again, adjusting to Arrow McLaren, getting married over the offseason and so much more. Watch Video>
On this episode of Doug and Drivers, IMS President Doug Boles sits down with four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves. The modern legend discusses his historic Drive for Five, his transition to an ownership role within Meyer Shank Racing, the loss of his dear friend Gil de Ferran, and more. Watch Video>
June 15, 2019 | By Paul Kelly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
When it comes to ticket renewals, it’s time for Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge fans to shift into high gear. The renewal window for tickets to the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and other Month of May products is Monday evening, June 17. Renew Now Fans are encouraged to renew or upgrade their Indy 500 tickets at www.IMS.com/Renew, by calling 317-492-8500 or by visiting the IMS Ticket Office. These are the best prices of the year for renewals and upgrades, available only during the renewal window to those who attended Month of May events in 2019. Prices will increase when tickets go on sale this fall, and again in 2020. And if fans need a little reminder as to why now is the perfect time to renew for next May, here are 104 reasons – in no particular order, with some tongue planted firmly in cheek! – why you should renew your Indy 500 tickets by this Monday! 1. The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world. 2. A chance to say hello to your favorite Yellow Shirt. 3. You already miss stepping on the Yard of Bricks in Pagoda Plaza. 4. Knowing you have Indy 500 tickets carries you through the long, cold months of winter and early spring. 5. A chance to eat the tastiest pork tenderloin in racing. 6. A cold Miller Lite goes down so easy on a warm May day at the track. 7. A chance to see the man, myth and legend himself – A.J. Foyt. 8. Hearing the delightful Donald Davidson speak about anything, especially the history of the “500.” 9. Visiting the IMS Museum, which continues to add more and more interesting exhibits every year. 10. The hold-your-breath three-wide action of the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires in the Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires. Always a great race on Miller Lite Carb Day. 11. Smiling during vintage car laps at IMS, a rolling museum of racing history. 12. Running into and saying hi to IMS President Doug Boles. Your chances are good – the man is everywhere at the track. 13. You’ll be the envy of all your friends not at the track when you post shots of the race to social media. 14. Feeling your spine tingle with a jolt of excitement when the command to start engines is given. 15. Waving hello to Johnny Rutherford. 16. Accessing Gasoline Alley on practice and qualifying days with your Bronze Badge. 17. The chance to see Helio Castroneves make history by adding himself as the fourth face on Indy’s Mount Rushmore as a four-time winner of the “500.” 18. Taking your obligatory photo of the Pagoda and posting it on social media. 19. The sound of 33 Indy cars at top speed – the most beautiful mechanical symphony on Earth. 20. Seeing the beautiful design of your Indy 500 Race Day ticket. 21. Hearing 300,000 fans go completely silent during the poignant performance of “Taps.” 22. The chance to see if the entire field makes it through Turns 1 and 2 of the IMS road course on the opening lap of the INDYCAR Grand Prix. 23. Seeing if a driver can crash Will Power and Simon Pagenaud’s victory party in the INDYCAR Grand Prix. 24. Sitting on the spectator mounds to see Indy cars race through the IMS infield during the INDYCAR Grand Prix. 25. How could you sleep throughout June without hearing the shrill beep of Yellow Shirts’ whistles in your dreams? 26. Getting an autograph from your favorite current Indianapolis 500 driver. 27. Going to Mass or chapel service on Race Day in the IMS garages. One of the most unique places of worship on Earth. 28. Hearing Jim Cornelison’s incredible pipes during “Back Home Again in Indiana.” 29. Seeing the power and the glory of U.S. military aircraft during the Race Day flyover. 30. Racing your best buddy on go-karts on the cool oval course in the IMS Midway. 31. Hearing the Indy 500 Gordon Pipers blow those sweet bagpipes. It sounds like May. 32. Saluting the men and women of America’s military as they march down the straightaway during pre-race. 33. The anticipation of your hair standing on end when the field leaves Turn 4 to take the green flag. 34. Attending the 500 Festival Parade on the day before the race. 35. Getting an autograph from your favorite Indianapolis 500 legend during Legends Day presented by Firestone. 36. Taking the day off for Miller Lite Carb Day. Come on: Most of your friends do it, too. 37. Saying hello to and maybe petting Simon Pagenaud’s Norman, the most famous dog in racing. 38. Sharing an ice-cold Pepsi with your kid in the Pagoda Plaza. 39. On a warm day, you might get a glimpse of the incredible Borg-Warner Trophy tattoo on Tony Kanaan’s bulging bicep. 40. Renting a scanner and getting even deeper into the flow of the race by hearing dramatic driver-crew conversations (including some NSFW!). 41. Hanging out near the Red Carpet on Race Morning to snap a photo and maybe even a selfie with celebrities like Matt Damon and Christian Bale. 42. Seeing sensational curb-hopping as cars haul through Turns 5 and 6 leading to the back straight of the IMS road course during the INDYCAR Grand Prix. 43. Saving your Race Day ticket for a scrapbook, glass-top coffee table or frame. 44. Hearing the fireworks bomb blast in the infield at 6 a.m. on Indy 500 Race Day, signifying spectator gates are open. 45. Seeing the coolest 80-year-old Indy car driver on Earth, Mario Andretti. 46. Watching the fastest pit crews in the business work their magic during the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge. 47. Breaking out your jorts for the first time all year. Hey, it’s May and time to party at IMS. 48. Seeing the Scoring Pylon shimmer with green lights from top to bottom on the race start and restarts. 49. Singing along to some of the top country acts in the world during the Firestone Legends Day Concert. 50. You never know what Indy 500 driver or celebrity you’ll run into while on the grounds at IMS. 51. A chance to see another spine-tingling back-and-forth duel for the win, like Mears and Andretti in 1991 or Pagenaud and Rossi in 2019. 52. Hearing one of the most stirring renditions of the national anthem anywhere on Race Day. 53. Enjoying some of the best people-watching anywhere on this or any other planet. 54. Watching a race car traveling the length of a football field per second never gets old. 55. Seeing Speedway-area residents turn their yards into parking lots and defy the laws of geometry to park more vehicles than you could ever imagine. 56. Buying and thumbing through the beautiful, informative Indianapolis 500 Official Program. 57. Seeing which suit and tie IMS President Doug Boles will wear on Race Day. 58. Admiring the most beautiful trophy in sports, the Borg-Warner Trophy. 59. Seeing and meeting fellow race fans from nations all over the world. 60. Hearing a variety of languages spoken by fans at the track. 61. Running into a long-lost relative or friend at the race. Maybe even your ex-girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse! 62. Seeing a grown adult gleefully dump a bottle of cold milk on their head in Victory Lane. 63. Watching the most passionate smooch of any masonry in the world on the Yard of Bricks. 64. Wondering if you’ve seen a future Indy 500 winner in the Road to Indy series races during May at IMS. 65. Cheering for all 33 starters during the Public Drivers’ Meeting on Legends Day presented by Firestone. 66. Buying yourself or a fellow fan something cool from the Indy 500 Memorabilia Show on Legends Day presented by Firestone. 67. Listening to the pomp and pageantry of the Purdue Marching Band on Race Morning. 68. Watching with parental pride as your kids meet IMS mascots Axel and Alley for the first time. 69. Seeing local news reporters and personalities broadcast live from the track. 70. Watching adults shed tears of joy in Victory Lane. 71. Wondering if the 2020 winner will be as much of a maniac in Victory Lane as Will Power was in 2018. 72. Singing “God Bless America” at the top of your lungs during pre-race ceremonies. 73. Savoring an Indy Dog with mustard and relish. And another. And another. 74. Admiring the beautiful curves and angles of the Chevrolet Pace Car as it laps the track. 75. Arguing with your buddy in the stands during pre-race whether a Chevy or a Honda engine wins the race. 76. Wondering what it would be like if Indy’s own Ed Carpenter won the race of his dreams. 77. Seeing if Simon Pagenaud can become the first repeat “500” winner since Helio Castroneves in 2002. 78. Seeing if Team Penske can extend its record for Indianapolis 500 victories to 19. 79. Watching huge packs of cars slipstream around the track at 225 mph during “Happy Hour” of Indy 500 practice. 80. Taking a sip of a cold beverage at the track and wondering, “How can it be true that someone with the last name of Smith – the most common surname in America – has never raced in the Indy 500?” 81. Feeling zero guilt about melting your charge card with purchases of swag at the IMS Gift Shop. 82. Catching the gorgeous sunrise over the back straightaway on Race Morning. 83. Buying your annual T-shirt featuring the starting field for the Indianapolis 500. 84. Patriotic raving at the Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light, seeing the Stars and Stripes in places you never imagined. 85. Holding your annual family reunion in the grandstands. 86. Walking the area around the track on the night before the race and soaking in the spectacle of sight and sound. 87. Camping with friends on Race Weekend. 88. Seeing which driver leaves the pits first during the final stop of the race. 89. Cheering for your favorite driver until you’re hoarse. 90. Turning back the clock and rocking to the bands on stage at Miller Lite Carb Day. 91. Seeing if Graham Rahal or Marco Andretti can return the last names of racing royalty to Victory Lane at the Indy 500. 92. Wondering how the Firestone Firehawk mascot can see through that big head! 93. Witnessing the unfolding, intriguing drama of Pole Day qualifying. 94. Crushing your step count for the day on your Fitbit is easier and more enjoyable at the track than anywhere else. 95. Seeing your kids smile and laugh as they enjoy the games in the Kids Zone in the IMS Midway. 96. Feeling the ghosts of the past as you walk around the track. Admit it: They’re there. 97. Walking on the IMS road course during the track invasion after the INDYCAR Grand Prix. 98. Knowing you’re part of the largest gathering of fans in a single day at a sporting event on this planet. 99. Seeing if any team can repeat Team Penske’s incredible feat of sweeping the front row in Indy 500 qualifying in 1988. 100. Wrapping your head around the fact that Churchill Downs, Lucas Oil Stadium, Yankee Stadium and the Rose Bowl all can fit inside the IMS infield, with room to spare. 101. The constant smell of burning wood on the night before the race due to campfires in the area around the track. 102. Realizing that the number of Indy Dogs consumed on Race Day would circle the IMS oval almost twice if laid end-to-end. 103. Bringing a cooler through the gates with food and drink. How many other sporting venues let you do that? 104. Because where else would you rather be on Memorial Day weekend in May?