With the Indianapolis 500 being less than a month away, fans are starting to think about making their travel plans. One of the first questions that may pop up in your head is ‘How many seats are at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?’.
The short answer is…it’s hard to tell exactly. There is no exact number of seats that will be available for the big race this year. No matter if you’re traveling by car, train, or plane, there will surely be some seats available but there is no way of knowing how many until the last minute. It really is something to keep in mind as you start making your travel plans.
The Legend Continues
When it comes to the Indianapolis 500, it doesn’t get more iconic than the name ‘Indianapolis’. Every year, the Indianapolis 500 is one of the most-anticipated sporting events in the country. It was first held in 1911 and since then, has continued to grow in popularity. In 2018, over 194,000 people are expected to attend the annual race. That’s equivalent to the population of Indianapolis!
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is truly one of the most important sporting venues in the country. It’s located in Speedway, Indiana and has been host to some of the most iconic sporting events in history. It was originally designed for auto racing but is now used for many different types of motorsport events. The most popular of these are the Indy 500 and the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. In 2018, the F1 race will be on May 25th. That’s less than a month away!
The most exciting thing about the Indy 500 is that it’s not only about the race itself. Every year, the last day of the race is also celebrated as ‘Budapest Day’. This is celebrated the day before the race in honor of the many fans from Hungary who travel to Indy every year to support their national sport. There are numerous parades, festival activities, and concerts throughout the city. In addition, the winners of the Indy 500 receive a golden statue of a horse named ‘Indy’.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is such a significant place in American sports that it’s been featured on numerous occasions on The Simpsons. In particular, the Speedway scene in the season 7 premiere ‘Barttoonist’ is a must-see for any motorsport fan. The iconic venue will be featured on the silver screen in the upcoming 2021 James Bond film, ‘Moisés Scarfe’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ as the location of the film’s iconic car chase.
Seating Chart
If you’re one of the many fans that will be traveling to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 in May, you’ll want to know how many tickets you need to purchase. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered on this front. Let’s take a look at the seating chart for this year’s race. (Updated March 12th, 2020)
The best way to find out how many seats are available is to click on the ‘Seating Chart’ button on the right side of the page. This will take you to a fully interactive map. On this map, you’ll be able to select the day and time of your desired event. You can change the date by clicking on the calendar at the top of the map.
Each greenish dot represents an available seat at the track. The closer the dot is to the center, the cheaper the ticket will be. The farther the dot is from the center, the more expensive the seat will be. For example, Friday and Saturday morning’s are generally more expensive than Thursday and Wednesday’s are. The reason for this is simple – the closer you get to the center, the more people are going to be there. So if you want to sit down, you’re going to have to pay a little more. This is something to keep in mind as you’re browsing through the various seating charts on this site.
The Fastest Route To The Center
While it’s always nice to have plenty of time to arrange your travel plans, sometimes, you need to get to your destination as quickly as possible. For those that need to get to Indianapolis as soon as possible for the Indy 500, there are multiple options available. In fact, there are multiple routes that you can take to get there as quickly as possible. Here’s a short list of the fastest routes:
- Take I-65 South to Exit 18B (East 74th Street) – That will take you right to the center of town.
- Take I-70 West to Exit 24A (Collins Avenue) – That will take you straight to the race track.
- Take I-70 East to Exit 24 (Kensington Road) – That will take you to the heart of downtown.
- Take I-74 West to Exit 19 (Stadium Road) – That will bring you to the heart of the city.
- Take I-70 East to Exit 39 (Church Street) – That will give you the best view of the entire race field.
Of course, none of these options are ideal. If you’re looking for the most scenic route, you should take I-74 West to Exit 19 (Stadium Road) and take a left onto Church Street. From there, take a right onto Keystone Avenue and continue forward to the track. As you can see, there are a lot of little roads and alleys that you have to navigate but the scenery is beautiful. If you do decide to take this route, be sure to pull over and look at the map occasionally so you don’t get lost.
Where Should I Park?
If you’re heading to the airport, you may want to park at the Indianapolis International Airport (IATA: IND) because there are plenty of parking spaces there. Unfortunately, the garage is going to be full when you arrive at the airport so you’ll have to find a spot outside. The best thing about IATA is that there are no regular parking fees there. You can find more information at www.flyairportindy.com.
If you’re driving to the event, you may want to park in one of the lots at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Vermont Street. This is right in the center of town and the closest parking lot to the Cultural Center. The only downside is that it’s not very convenient for walking to the event since it’s not really far from the parking lot. However, if you’re driving, this is the best place to park. The cost is also minimal there.
Will There Be Enough Seating?
The number of tickets available for the Indy 500 is always an issue because season ticket holders purchase them in advance and there are only so many seats available. In 2018, there were only 29,000 empty seats according to the IMS website. The best way to find out how many tickets you need is to look at the ‘Seating Chart’ on this site or the IMS app. You can also contact the IMS ticket office at (317) 493-6500 or visit them online at www.indyarms.com.
Is There Enough Space For My Camping Vehicle?
If you’re camping, there are a few spots that you can go to. The IMS website has a camping map that you can access by clicking here. There is also a space inside one of the garages. The best thing about these places is that they are close to the highway. This means that you can use your own vehicle as a basecamp. Toilets and showers are available at these spaces but you have to bring your own food and water. Another option is to stay at a hotel. They will have some connecting rooms that you can use to set up your tent. Bring your own food and water with you and use the bathroom that the hotel provides. Last but not least, you can bring a small RV and park it at one of the many campgrounds that are located around the city. This is the cheapest option but it’s also the most crowded as there are many people that want to camp there. For more information about camping at the Indy 500, you can contact the IMS Camping Office at (866) 221-2414 or visit their website at www.indyarms.com/Camping.