Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

kicking around the idea of going to Indy out of the blue for the 500. Never been before but always wanted to just to say i saw it. Any advice from people that have been. Looks like hotels are booked up so we would be driving into town then maybe a shuttle so would need parking advice and anything else helpful thanks.

This may not be the year for it. Grandstands are completely sold out, so you're looking for a scalped ticket or something on Stubhub. I nixed plans when I saw how much the frontstretch seats were going for.

I've been 3 times and in order to find reasonable parking (within a mile or so of the track) I've gotten there 4-5 hrs before. This year, you might think of getting there even earlier.

Once you're there, the museum in the infield is amazing, the atmosphere is 2nd to none on 500 morning. They allow you to access the infield and being near gasoline alley is a real treat.

Getting out is not near the disaster you'd think it is. They do an excellent job of moving traffic along.

100th running this year. Grandstand seats are soldout. They are still selling general admission. There has always been lots of tickets for sale outside the gate if your not coming with any.

We drive in that morning and have always park in the large coke lot NW of the speedway for free. It has been filling up the last few years so I plan on getting there by 7am this year. Other wise there is lots of churches, schools and front yards for fee parking. expect $10 -40$ depending how far you want to walk. And you will walk alot no matter what.

You can bring in any food or drink just no glass and no coolers and bags over 18x14x14. Just remember it will be along walk and you have to carry it all the way. The consessions are good but can be pricey and long waits.

Other basics,maybe sunscreen, hats, earplugs

I agree it is something you should see at least once. You should try it.

dont forgot to stop at kokomo that night for some sprint car racing. Thats my plan. It sorta on the way home.

Thanks for the info guys, looks like we may pass this year once I saw it was sold out and prices are nuts on stub hub and late to the game on hotels nothing really within 80 miles. I'll definitely keep it on my list to get there some day but probably watch it on tv this year.

This year is a really big race, that is for sure. We ordered our tickets the day they went on sale and my wife booked both parking and a hotel room the next day. That was several months ago now. All of the information that others have offered is spot on. I would also include however that if you are going with family memebers that are younger you try and avoid parking in a location that would force you to walk through the camping area. Some of the people there can be rather crude, especially if you are with women. The IRL is really not worth a damn, but The 500 is definitely something you should see at least once if you are a race fan. It is a spectacle.

Never hit stationary objects!

Plan well ahead -- like 11 months ahead -- and you won't have any troubles with tickets or parking passes or accommodations. But be careful, because you might get hooked. There is nothing in motorsports like race day at the 500. 

Coke Lot (1C) is already sold out and its only for RV's and campers.  from the IMS website: "Parking is currently sold out throughout the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. See below for more information regarding parking and camping in areas around the Town of Speedway and surrounding areas."

This will be my first trip to the Indy race. Lucky for me I bought a parking pass with my tickets months ago.

Usually the eastern third or less of lot(1C) has been used for camping then the rest is opened up race day for car parking. Fifteen years ago this lot would not even fill half full on race day. As popularity of the race has come back it has been getting fuller and fuller until the last few years it filled up. more and more camping has been going on.

If that lot is going to be completly filled with camping that will be one major party. And yes one you will not want to walk your small children through.  A walk through there is an experience in itself. I awlays get a good laugh seeing the aftermath.

That is it! For some reason they were re-routing traffic to that end of the speedway and we ended up parking on the opposite side of that campground. Almost had to rip the head off of a college kid when he was trying to get the bra off of my 16 year old daughter for his bra-flag. That was one of the encounters. I will never park over there again. Have been going to that race for 30 years and that is the first time that I had seen that side of the event. Guess up until that point I had been making the right parking decisions!   LMAO

Never hit stationary objects!

????? ...................... once was enuff for me

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