Is the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway still open for business this year? You’d think so after weeks of being closed due to the pandemic, but it looks like the track may have changed its tune. In recent weeks, INDYCAR, the sanctioning body for top-level motorsport in North America, has begun testing at various venues – including the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway – and several teams have resumed racing at the historic speedway.
Now it’s up to you to decide if the popular 1.526-mile oval is back on your 2016 calendar. We think so, and here’s why…
The Track Is Open
Yes, the track is open. On April 14, INDYCAR opened the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, welcoming fans and drivers from around the world. Since then, the track has been hosting several open practices and qualifying sessions each week, culminating in the Verizon IndyCar Series season-opener on May 5.
In fact, over the last few weeks, the track has seen a lot of activity. On April 17, INDYCAR hosted a media day at the track, welcoming several dozen print and digital journalists from around the world. As for the drivers, over the last few weeks we’ve seen some of the biggest names in motorsport return to the track, including Michael Andretti, Scott Dixon, and Takuma Sato. It seems like they’re trying to make up for lost time.
The Future Of IndyCar
The future of IndyCar looks a lot brighter these days. With several teams and drivers eager to get back out on the track, along with the return of several legendary names, the sanctioning body looks like it could be in good shape. And if that’s not enough, over the last year or so, we’ve seen several new TV deals put the IndyCar series in quite the money-making situation – not to mention the growth of live-streaming and YouTube content, creating even more opportunity for sponsors and marketers.
A Mecca For Car Collectors
Even diehard car fans have been drawn to the Mecca that is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With the historic 1.526-mile oval hosting hundreds of auto exhibitions each year, it’s easy to understand why. Whether you’re an old-school Indy racer or a car enthusiast from another sport, there’s plenty to do at the track.
On April 14, INDYCAR opened the track to the public for the first time in years. And fans took advantage of the opportunity, showing up in droves to see the famous cars, drivers, and tracks. The following day, the track hosted its first-ever autograph session, which drew huge crowds and saw many historic racing cars signed by their famous drivers. The speedway also hosted a Grand Prix for kids, attracting families and drivers from around the world.
Then, of course, there’s the racing. Even if you’re not a fan of NASCAR, you have to admit that the IndyCar series is one of the most entertaining sporting events in the world. Witnessing a car or truck slam into another during a race is always an exciting moment. And it’s not just the action on the track that draws in the fans. The drivers are also celebrities in their own right, with fan-favorite Doonan attracting huge followings wherever he goes. The series is also arguably the most competitive in the world, which brings in the crowds. And if that weren’t enough, the last several seasons have seen IndyCar grow its audiences on social media, with numerous active accounts reaching millions of people each week – proving that even during the pandemic, people love to keep up with the drivers, teams, and games.
So, we think it’s safe to say that the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway is back on our 2016 calendar. And if that’s not good enough, the track is also seeing a boom in business, with major sponsors returning and several new outfits jumping on board to create a competitive series in 2018.