The answer is yes, but it’s not what you might think. Yes, the Speedway will be open to the general public on February 22, but only for one night. The next day, the racers will make their way back to the track for the True Grassroots Invitational, and while you could still go watch the races, this is one event you might want to wait for. Why? Because this year’s edition of Tomorrow Land is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet. The first event, which is on Friday night, is going to be a great opportunity for you to get up close and personal with your favourite cars and drivers, and it also marks the unofficial start of the season. You see, racing fans, this year is a special one, and it’s not just because it’s the 50th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. It’s because this year, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is welcoming visitors from all over the world, and it has something for everyone.
The New Era Of Travelling
This year’s theme is “Travelling The Racing Track”, and it’s something that’s new for the speedway. Last year, they held “The Eighth Wonder Of The World”, which was the centennial celebration of the Indianapolis 500, and it was a great success. This year, they’re expanding on that, and are bringing in more guests and more racing fans. Last year, they had over 300,000 people come through the gates, and this year, they’re aiming for half a million. The gates open at 5 p.m., and if you’re looking for a good cause to support, the IndyCar Series will be making a big comeback this year, and it’ll be supporting the Glorious Kids Foundation. You can find more information at https://www.indycar.com/gloriouskids.
Indianapolis 500 Festival
Last year was a big year for the Indy 500 Festival, which was started back in 1975 and it features local and national music artists performing throughout the year. It also has a variety of other entertainment, from comedy to circus performers. While it might not be the most exciting year of the festival yet, it has featured some amazing performers. This year is going to be bigger and better yet, and it’ll feature several iconic American cars and drivers. Here’s a rundown of the cars and drivers that will be appearing at the festival:
- Cody Willms – Professional Rodeo Cowboy
- Ricky Burns – Motorcycle Racer
- James Davison – IndyCar Driver
- Scott Dixon – IndyCar Driver
- Jack Arute – IndyCar Driver
- Dale Coyne – NASCAR Driver
- Chip Ganassi – IndyCar & NASCAR Driver
- Mikhail Goikhmans – IndyCar Driver
- Max Papis – IndyCar Driver
- Mike Conway – IndyCar Driver
- Scott Dixon – IndyCar Driver
- Tony Kanaan – IndyCar Driver
- Ryan Hunter – IndyCar Driver
- PJ Jacobsen – IndyCar Driver
Some of these drivers are probably the most recognizable faces in motorsport, and it should be an amazing experience for fans to get a chance to speak with and get photos with them. The festival will be running from February 16 – 21 this year, and it’ll feature both days of the Indy 500. You can buy your ticket in advance, or you can go on the day of the race. Check out http://indy500festival.com for more information.
The 2017 Indianapolis 500
This year’s edition of the Indy 500 will be the 100th running of the greatest motor race in the world, and it’ll be happening on Sunday, May 25. If you’re looking for information on where to watch the race, check out the IMS website, because they’ve got lots of helpful information up there. They’ve also released a lot of information about how to get tickets to the race, which you can read here: http://www.indycar.com/news/articles/2017/01/22/print.html.
If you’re not familiar with IndyCar, it’s time to find out more about it. IndyCar was founded in 1968 as a rival organization to the NFL and the NBA. It’s one of the premier leagues of American motorsport, and it’s growing all the time. There are currently over 150 races on the IndyCar schedule, and they’ve got a fantastic rookie program for drivers who are just getting started in motorsport. Over the past year, they’ve also grown their TV audience from 4.2 million to over 6.7 million. So, not only is racing still popular, but it’s also becoming more mainstream.
The 2017 Budweiser Grand Prix Of Indianapolis
On January 12th, the IMS announced that one of NASCAR‘s biggest events, the Budweiser Grand Prix of Indianapolis, would be coming to the speedway in March. This is the tenth edition of the Budweiser Grand Prix of Indianapolis, and it’s the first time in almost 15 years that the event has been held at the Indy 500 level. It was founded in 2004, and it replaced the Indy Car Dream Race, which had been held at the same time as the Indy 500 for many years. Essentially, the Dream Race was a precursor to the Budweiser Grand Prix of Indianapolis, and it was always the second race of the year. So, while the Indy 500 is closed to new participants, the Budweiser Grand Prix of Indianapolis will be open to the public.
This is going to be an amazing opportunity for fans who want to see some of the greatest NASCAR drivers in the world, especially since this will be the only chance they get to see some of these guys before the end of the season. The ten races that comprise the Budweiser Grand Prix of Indiana all take place in March, so you won’t be missing much by not going to the Indy 500. The speedway will be holding the Grand Prix over two consecutive nights this year, with Practice and Qualifying on Monday, March 6, and the Championship Race on Tuesday, March 7. While Practice and Qualifying are open to the public, the Championship Race will be an evening event, held on the Tuesday, and it’s one of the most anticipated nights of the speedway‘s calendar. You can buy tickets for the Grand Prix here: http://www.indy500.com/gpobuchting/default.aspx. You can also find out more about the event on their website: http://www.grandprixofindianapolis.com. You can also follow them on social media sites, such as Twitter (@BudweiserGPI), and like their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BudweiserGPI).
There are several other interesting races lined up for the 2017 season. The Verizon IndyCar Series will be heading to Mid-Ohio in June, and the legendary road course will be back for the 24th running of the Festival of Speed. The Detroit Grand Prix and the Utah Grand Prix are both also returning this year, as is the famous Brickyard Grand Prix. The only thing that isn’t returning is the legendary Duck Tail Park, which was held in May before the Indy 500. This will be a big loss for fans of the Indianapolis Colts, but overall, the speedway is shaping up to be one of the best years yet.