Spectator capacity at the 2020 Indianapolis is being brought down to 25% from the anticipated 50% ahead of the reorganised August 23 event.
The Indy 500 was moved as part of a rescheduled 2020 calendar for IndyCar, switching from a late May date to late August amid the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
On June 26 the event announced it would permit fans at the event at 50% of capacity but on Tuesday it updated its guidelines to halve that.
“In June, we announced the race was on and that attendance would be limited to no more than 50% of capacity,” said Penske Entertainment Corporation president and CEO Mark Miles.
“We also made clear we intended to do things differently this year.
“By offering credits to fans who had previously purchased tickets, encouraging those over 65 to stay at home, limiting attendance in the infield, reducing tickets in our suites and promising fans their decision to not attend would not impact their seniority or right to renew tickets for 2021, we now anticipate attendance at approximately 25% of capacity.
“We will welcome fans back, and we have an aggressive plan in place, which has been developed through collaboration with national, state and local health experts.”
Miles added: “Our outdoor facility is mammoth, and with attendance of about 25%, it will certainly look different this year.
“We want to demonstrate that even under current circumstances, people can gather with carefully planned procedures in place so we don’t have to go back to shutting down our country and our community.”
This year’s Indy 500 is the first since leading team owner Roger Penske bought the track and the IndyCar Series.
Fans attending the event may be reassigned seats to improve social distancing, will be required to wear a mask, and be subjected to temperature checks when entering, and most food available on site will be pre-packaged.
Following the coronavirus induced lock-down, the 2020 IndyCar season got underway at Texas on June 6.
The following round on July 4 – on the Indianapolis road course – was not open to fans, but spectators were allowed in for the next two rounds, at Road America and Iowa over the past two weekends.
Update: On July 22 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway released a 88-page document regarding the protocols for the race in Ausgust. You can view the information here.
