The Indianapolis 500 will allow fans at the venue this May, but not to its full capacity with 40% – 135,000 people – able to attend the race.
The race – which is the largest-attended single-day sporting event in the world, with over 300,000 fans on race day – had to be delayed until August last year and was run behind closed doors for the first time.
As recently as March 22 the event was expecting close to capacity in attendance as Roger Penske said the goal was 250000 fans, although he cautioned that with “anything I would say today could be completely wrong”.
In a press release on Wednesday the Indianapolis Motor Speedway confirmed that “the plan for the Sunday, May 30 race at the world’s largest sporting facility was developed in close consultation with state and local health officials and has been approved by the Marion County Public Health Department”.
“Our fans mean everything to us, and we can’t wait to welcome them ‘back home again’ for this year’s Indy 500,” said Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles.
“The city and state have worked with us to identify the appropriate health and safety precautions so that we can successfully host a limited but very enthusiastic crowd.
“The health and safety of everyone coming to IMS, along with Central Indiana and the Hoosier State, have been paramount throughout this process.”
Further to the reduced capacity, anyone in attendance will be required to wear a face mask, undergo temperature checks and observe social distancing in grandstands. “Frequent cleaning and sanitation processes” will be in place.
Beyond race day, tickets for other days of the event remain available, although some events such as many of the concerts surrounding the event have been cancelled.
Around 90% of IndyCar team personnel had been vaccinated before the Barber IndyCar season opener last weekend according to Penske Entertainment’s Mark Miles.
“The number one thing fans can do to ensure a great Race Day is get vaccinated as quickly as possible,” Miles said in Wednesday’s release.
“We continue to offer vaccinations at IMS and will be extending our mass vaccination clinic throughout the Month of May. This is all part of the effort to continue getting Indiana back on track.”
More information on admission, entry and scheduling can be found here.
