Indy 500 - Who has been?
Discussion
Am thinking of incorporating a visit to the 2012 Indy 500 within a holiday next year and just doing some preliminary research into it...
Has anyone here been before? Do you submit an application via the website and hope for tickets - it seems to be a ballot-style system?
Will be going as a pauper rather than full-on corporate style - am I likely to see much and is there much else to do over a weekend there?
Anyone with some experience they wish to share, I would be most grateful
Has anyone here been before? Do you submit an application via the website and hope for tickets - it seems to be a ballot-style system?
Will be going as a pauper rather than full-on corporate style - am I likely to see much and is there much else to do over a weekend there?
Anyone with some experience they wish to share, I would be most grateful
I'd never sat and watched an Indycar race until last weekend (it was broadcast immediately after the F1 race) and I was frankly amazed. Its like 1980's F1 (the quality of the cars aero packages) but no rules about collisions.
Its like bumper cars.
Utterly hillarious in a so-bad-its-good way.
I'd go to Austin instead for the inaugral USA F1 race.
Its like bumper cars.
Utterly hillarious in a so-bad-its-good way.
I'd go to Austin instead for the inaugral USA F1 race.
Austin is not quite so near to the rest of the planned holiday though - plus I have seen F1 plenty of times.
I am not so fussed about the racing quality - it is something that I would never think about doing more than once but is something to tick off the list of things done in life and is a massive spectacle.
I am not so fussed about the racing quality - it is something that I would never think about doing more than once but is something to tick off the list of things done in life and is a massive spectacle.
Go to the 500, you WONT regret it. Real high speed racing, a total lottery regarding who will win(just look at this years race). An atmosphere and build up never to be forgotten andthousands upon thousands of race fans at one of the most famous race tracks in the world.
Oh, the cars do around 240mph now, sometimes in packs, wheel to wheel, 3 wide.
Oh, the cars do around 240mph now, sometimes in packs, wheel to wheel, 3 wide.
IndyAndy777 said:
Go to the 500, you WONT regret it. Real high speed racing, a total lottery regarding who will win(just look at this years race). An atmosphere and build up never to be forgotten andthousands upon thousands of race fans at one of the most famous race tracks in the world.
Oh, the cars do around 240mph now, sometimes in packs, wheel to wheel, 3 wide.
Can I just buy some tickets like normal or will I have to just apply and hope?Oh, the cars do around 240mph now, sometimes in packs, wheel to wheel, 3 wide.
Are there 'better' places to sit or is it fairly open and good viewing from any stand?
Not too sure about buying tickets, never had too. (sorry!)
Turn 1 or the main stand oposite the pits- for the driver walkout, famous words, start/finish action and seeing all the fun in the pitlane during the caution periods. Also the post race milk celebration in victory lane are visable from there.
Turn 1 or the main stand oposite the pits- for the driver walkout, famous words, start/finish action and seeing all the fun in the pitlane during the caution periods. Also the post race milk celebration in victory lane are visable from there.
IndyAndy777 said:
Not too sure about buying tickets, never had too. (sorry!)
Turn 1 or the main stand oposite the pits- for the driver walkout, famous words, start/finish action and seeing all the fun in the pitlane during the caution periods. Also the post race milk celebration in victory lane are visable from there.
Is the infield free to walk around in or more restrictive to corporates a la F1?Turn 1 or the main stand oposite the pits- for the driver walkout, famous words, start/finish action and seeing all the fun in the pitlane during the caution periods. Also the post race milk celebration in victory lane are visable from there.
HeavySoul said:
Is the infield free to walk around in or more restrictive to corporates a la F1?
Seems to be a bus that takes people to the infield so they can get up close to the teams and drivers. I watched the F1 from the infield there in '06, on a viewing area outside the paddock in turn one.There is a tunnel that goes under the circuit, i'm not sure if it's public access though.
Access to the pitlane is very strict, but paddock access seems to be welcomed as there are always lots of people milling around. I dont know if this requires a different pass though.
I went this year.
100% recommend it.
We flew into Chicago, picked up a hire car and drove down to Indianapolis and stayed in a motel on the edge of town.
Went to the track on Thursday just to go to the museum & found we could walk anywhere for free, watched the Indy lights practice, bumped into Mario Andretti & Al Unser Jr who stopped for photos & a chat.
Did the GM experience thing and drove a Corvette, plus picked up loads of freebie t-shirts etc.
Back on Carb day for the Indy lights race and the final Indycar practice, free seating in the grandstands. Plus if you're into it there's usually a big concert, this year it was Stained and Papa Roach (last years was ZZ Top which would have been my preference!)
Did some sightseeing on the Saturday as not a lot happens on the track - we went to an old aircraft museum next to Grissom airbase, about 60 miles north of Indy.
For race day, we left the hotel at 7:00am to drive to the circuit and were parked up by 8:00 - we used the official parking right by the front gate of the circuit.
Plenty of things to watch pre-race, demo laps of previous winning cars and drivers, plus marching bands, military personnel etc - usual stuff you get at American races.
Race was excellent, anything you couldn't see in front of you, you could follow on the diamond screens.
After the race we had a leisurely walk back to the car to let the main crowds go. They run a one-way system for traffic so just sent us eastbound until we hit the interstate, from which you can then go in any direction you please, probably about 50 mins to get back to the hotel after leaving the track.
We then spent Monday exploring and experiencing the wider Indiana area, ending up out by the covered bridges and doing a bit of the tourism stuff.
Make sure you stay in Indy for at least one day after the race, as in case it's rained off they run it on the following day.
We the drove back to Chicago and explored there for a few days.
Tickets were bought straight off of the indy website and arrived in the post.
Total costs per person for the four of us that went:
£540 Flights with Virgin (premium economy one way)
£430 for 8 nights hotel
£100 Car Hire inc petrol
£ 75 Entry tickets for Carb Day, Race day, grandstand & parking
£150 Evening meals
£1,295 Total per person
Everything ordered off of the internet, we'd never been before so just used our best guesses for stuff, and it all worked out great. Heartily recommend to anyone who wants to experience the Indy 500.
Any more questions, just ask.
100% recommend it.
We flew into Chicago, picked up a hire car and drove down to Indianapolis and stayed in a motel on the edge of town.
Went to the track on Thursday just to go to the museum & found we could walk anywhere for free, watched the Indy lights practice, bumped into Mario Andretti & Al Unser Jr who stopped for photos & a chat.
Did the GM experience thing and drove a Corvette, plus picked up loads of freebie t-shirts etc.
Back on Carb day for the Indy lights race and the final Indycar practice, free seating in the grandstands. Plus if you're into it there's usually a big concert, this year it was Stained and Papa Roach (last years was ZZ Top which would have been my preference!)
Did some sightseeing on the Saturday as not a lot happens on the track - we went to an old aircraft museum next to Grissom airbase, about 60 miles north of Indy.
For race day, we left the hotel at 7:00am to drive to the circuit and were parked up by 8:00 - we used the official parking right by the front gate of the circuit.
Plenty of things to watch pre-race, demo laps of previous winning cars and drivers, plus marching bands, military personnel etc - usual stuff you get at American races.
Race was excellent, anything you couldn't see in front of you, you could follow on the diamond screens.
After the race we had a leisurely walk back to the car to let the main crowds go. They run a one-way system for traffic so just sent us eastbound until we hit the interstate, from which you can then go in any direction you please, probably about 50 mins to get back to the hotel after leaving the track.
We then spent Monday exploring and experiencing the wider Indiana area, ending up out by the covered bridges and doing a bit of the tourism stuff.
Make sure you stay in Indy for at least one day after the race, as in case it's rained off they run it on the following day.
We the drove back to Chicago and explored there for a few days.
Tickets were bought straight off of the indy website and arrived in the post.
Total costs per person for the four of us that went:
£540 Flights with Virgin (premium economy one way)
£430 for 8 nights hotel
£100 Car Hire inc petrol
£ 75 Entry tickets for Carb Day, Race day, grandstand & parking
£150 Evening meals
£1,295 Total per person
Everything ordered off of the internet, we'd never been before so just used our best guesses for stuff, and it all worked out great. Heartily recommend to anyone who wants to experience the Indy 500.
Any more questions, just ask.
Would definatley reccommend it to any race fan. Went this year, booked through a company called Premier Travel. They arrange the accommodation, tickets and travel to the track. unfortunately i can't remember the exact costs!? Anyway the hotel was right on the main street where the Indy parade took place, which alone is worth seeing for an example in showmanship. In terms of access once inside track, we were able to walk anywhere, except the garage area, which did require a pass. On the Saturday we went to the Hall of Fame museum, a definate must on any visit, in fact it was so good we went back in on the sunday! On the saturday we also saw the drivers briefing and the presentation of the starters rings and saw Dario pick up his winners ring and championship trophy.
On Sunday we had a police escort into the track
the only downside however was the grandstand we were sat in, on the start finish straight, was a two tier stand. As a result, we couldn't see the B-2 stealth bomber fly past! Which really would've been a sight to behold. The race action was great tho, and Tony Kanaan was the hero of the day, even if Graham Rahal was technically the best the overtaker 
. Another bonus was the airport security in Indianapolis, the best i've experienced in all my travels!
In conclusion......GO TO INDY!
at least once in your life
On Sunday we had a police escort into the track
the only downside however was the grandstand we were sat in, on the start finish straight, was a two tier stand. As a result, we couldn't see the B-2 stealth bomber fly past! Which really would've been a sight to behold. The race action was great tho, and Tony Kanaan was the hero of the day, even if Graham Rahal was technically the best the overtaker . Another bonus was the airport security in Indianapolis, the best i've experienced in all my travels!In conclusion......GO TO INDY!
at least once in your life
I've been to Indy 3 times, in 2000 & 2001 for the F1 race and 2003 for the 500.
All the trips were great but even as a dedicated F1 fan the 500 was the most memorable, the noise from the cars flat out on the straights is constant and imense and its only when there is a full course yellow that you can hear yourself think.
On the Thursday or Friday before the event (can't remember which) they had (and would assume they still do) a drivers parade in downtown Indy which is well worth a visit, its more like a carnival than just a drivers parade.
We had seats in the centre of the track between the last turn and the start of the pits, not the best seats but a good view never the less, plenty of TV screens. The best seats IMO are on the outside of turn one or the upper part of the grandstand on the Start / Finish straight, we watched the F1 Quali from there one year and the view was excellent. The lower grandstands aren't so good but you are close to the action, I watched the start of the F1 race in 2001 standing next to the fence which is a few feet from the cars. Unfortunately these are also the most expensive and hardest to get seats as Indy have a policy of letting you rebook the same seat every year providing you book by a certain date, like others we bought our tickets direct from the track, they will either post them or you can collect.
The location of the track (next to the street) means that access is restricted to the area where you have your seat although if you have a centre ticket you can walk anywhere around the infield and see the pit area but there is no access. BTW as I recall you can go in and out as you please, which is handy given that the streets behind the track have lots of food and drink stands with a choice far wider than an 'Indy Dog' The Museum is well worth a visit, best to go after race day when the crowds have gone home.
Assuming you have a car the track is easy to access from the North West from the Interstate via West 38 Street and Georgetown Road. I wouldn't recommend getting their from downtown without going on the Interstate Highway as there are 100's of traffic lights and it takes forever. You can pre-book parking and there is plenty of space. The locals also rent out there front gardens for parking but it can be long walk.
We stayed on the NE side in an area called Castleton (E82nd Street) which has a good selection of Motels / Hotels to suit all price brackets at prices which were reasonable, there are also a good range of Resturants and Bars (incl. Hooters) and a shopping mall in the Area, if you want to stay downtown or nearer the Speedway you'll pay a lot more. I recommend you book early as the Hotels do sell
out.
The drive from Chicago is about 4-5 hours depending on the traffic but its a fairly easy drive, I'd not recomend doing it straight off a flight though. If your planing to go as part of a holiday check out Continental Airlines for a Multi-City Ticket to include your flights to and from the UK, when we did it worked out to be a very competive price, also take a look at United Vacations as booking flights, some hotels and car hire can get you a good deal. (You don't have to book all of your hotels / car hire with them to get the benefits of a good package). You can also avoid paying the Indy 500 premium!
All the trips were great but even as a dedicated F1 fan the 500 was the most memorable, the noise from the cars flat out on the straights is constant and imense and its only when there is a full course yellow that you can hear yourself think.
On the Thursday or Friday before the event (can't remember which) they had (and would assume they still do) a drivers parade in downtown Indy which is well worth a visit, its more like a carnival than just a drivers parade.
We had seats in the centre of the track between the last turn and the start of the pits, not the best seats but a good view never the less, plenty of TV screens. The best seats IMO are on the outside of turn one or the upper part of the grandstand on the Start / Finish straight, we watched the F1 Quali from there one year and the view was excellent. The lower grandstands aren't so good but you are close to the action, I watched the start of the F1 race in 2001 standing next to the fence which is a few feet from the cars. Unfortunately these are also the most expensive and hardest to get seats as Indy have a policy of letting you rebook the same seat every year providing you book by a certain date, like others we bought our tickets direct from the track, they will either post them or you can collect.
The location of the track (next to the street) means that access is restricted to the area where you have your seat although if you have a centre ticket you can walk anywhere around the infield and see the pit area but there is no access. BTW as I recall you can go in and out as you please, which is handy given that the streets behind the track have lots of food and drink stands with a choice far wider than an 'Indy Dog' The Museum is well worth a visit, best to go after race day when the crowds have gone home.
Assuming you have a car the track is easy to access from the North West from the Interstate via West 38 Street and Georgetown Road. I wouldn't recommend getting their from downtown without going on the Interstate Highway as there are 100's of traffic lights and it takes forever. You can pre-book parking and there is plenty of space. The locals also rent out there front gardens for parking but it can be long walk.
We stayed on the NE side in an area called Castleton (E82nd Street) which has a good selection of Motels / Hotels to suit all price brackets at prices which were reasonable, there are also a good range of Resturants and Bars (incl. Hooters) and a shopping mall in the Area, if you want to stay downtown or nearer the Speedway you'll pay a lot more. I recommend you book early as the Hotels do sell
out.
The drive from Chicago is about 4-5 hours depending on the traffic but its a fairly easy drive, I'd not recomend doing it straight off a flight though. If your planing to go as part of a holiday check out Continental Airlines for a Multi-City Ticket to include your flights to and from the UK, when we did it worked out to be a very competive price, also take a look at United Vacations as booking flights, some hotels and car hire can get you a good deal. (You don't have to book all of your hotels / car hire with them to get the benefits of a good package). You can also avoid paying the Indy 500 premium!
Definitely do it - anyone with even the vaguest automotive interest should witness the spectacle at least once. I've lost count of the 500's I've attended. My first was in 1988 and I've been to most since then. It is still the biggest single day attendance of any sport anywhere - and a real occasion. Buy tix through the Brickyard's website or at the gate. I've only done one 500 from the infield - it is a great spectacle of the debauchery of humanity, but not a very good view of the track. Tower Terrace or high up in Turn 4 are the best seats in the place.
Don't miss the action on W 16th and Georgetown Road on the Saturday evening preceding the race.
My corporate office is in Indianapolis, so I'm headed up there weekend after next for the Brickyard 400 Cup race, which is also a great race weekend. In contrast, the two F1 races I saw at Indy stank. I think Austin TX will be just as w
k, I'm afraid.
Don't miss the action on W 16th and Georgetown Road on the Saturday evening preceding the race.
My corporate office is in Indianapolis, so I'm headed up there weekend after next for the Brickyard 400 Cup race, which is also a great race weekend. In contrast, the two F1 races I saw at Indy stank. I think Austin TX will be just as w
k, I'm afraid.I heard Indy car races have a break/intermission every 1/4 to allow for the average fans concentration span and to allow track side spectators to refill their supersized gallon sized refreshment cups with more diet coke to offset the calories from the 12 hotdogs they will eat during the race?
F1 is too advanced for the American market as it involves cars using advanced technology such as independent suspension, fuel injection etc so it will never work over there.
F1 is too advanced for the American market as it involves cars using advanced technology such as independent suspension, fuel injection etc so it will never work over there.
Edited by marine boy on Tuesday 19th July 20:11
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