Indy 500 to happen with 135,000 fans in 5.5 weeks

Unfortunately due to Covid, the race will only be run with 40% capacity.  I'll be there, but it's a drag that 200,000 of my best friends will not.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/indy-500-host-135-000-190004788.html

I always wondered: normally, with that many fans, can you actually see very much of the race? Might be considerably easier now to see the track with the reduced seating. And of course, restrooms, snacks, parking, etc. might be a lot easier to navigate.

I find auto races pretty boring, and I recommend that just to spice things up, half the cars should go clockwise around the track and the other half counterclockwise. 500 laps in either direction would be completing the race. Of course, it would all be over long before then--another benefit!

There's no seat to my knowledge that gives you a view of the whole track.    If you sit in the middle by the finish line you can hardly see anything except for a blur of cars a few hundred yards in either direction,   I'm told the corners of the track offer the best views.

in my experience nobody watches the race until the last 10 minutes ....or unless there is an accident.    The rest of the time they wander around drinking and people watching.   

ive only been to the actual race once and that was enough.    We used to have a company party At Carb Day which is a sponcered event they have a few days before the race at the track.    That was kinda fun.   Free booze and lots of trailer park girls showing off their boobs.   

in any event it's a big draw and economic  boom for the city.    Lots of money comes into town normally .   Obviously that's been impacted by Covid

Prior to 1993, I had attended three races.  Since then, I've only missed two.  I'm far from a racing fan, but I enjoy this once a year event.

Since the track is located in a neighborhood about 4 miles from the two nearest interstate highways, traffic is a nightmare.  For that reason, we make a day of it.  We arrive four hours prior to the race and begin our tailgate in a guy's yard ($40 per car which includes tailgate space).  It takes us about 15 minutes to walk from our tailgate and climb the stands to our turn 4 seats.  We watch the festivities and the race, and then return to the tailgage.  We don't depart there until three hours after the race.  This makes my round trip drive time 1 hour.  If we try to leave immediately after the race, it literally would take me 3 hours to get home.

Without question, the best seats are in the middle of each turn.  From our seats, we can see three turns...........although turn 1 for us is a long ways off.  We have a great view from where they enter turn three, through the north short shoot through turn 4 and then well down the main straight.  PJ, the folks in the stands pay attention to the race, while most/many people in the infield pay little attention to the race.

I've sat by the start/finish line twice in the late 1990's, and while this is great to watch the festivities and the action in the pits, it's terrible for watching the race.

Tickets in a turn are a little pricy at $120 I think, but the balance of the day is pretty cheap.  You're allowed to bring in coolers into the track, so we pack in our own beer, booze, water, pop, and food.  Of course we also have food that we've brought during to our tailgate.  The entire day costs about $160 per person including food, tickets, drink and parking.  Our group includes people from Missouri, Illinois, North Carolina and Indiana.

It's a great day, but I wouldn't want to do it more than once a year.  My Asheville, NC brother, on the other hand would like to attend such a race much more often.

I used to sit with the Forsythe family group in turn three, and that was always a treat.  Parking passes immediately next to the track with a police escort to the track.  Breakfast in the turn two motel, prior to it being torn down.  John Forsythe (past team owner and not the actor) was my buddies father-in-law.  Until the IRL/Cart split, John and is billionaire brother Jerry ran three cars.  They were childhoods friends with the Hulman family and are quite connected.  John's niece, Lora, is married to Tony Hulman, the longtime president of the speedway and who's family owed the track until the recent sale to Roger Penske.  Driver and team owner Eddie Carpenter is Lora's son from a previous marriage.  I sat with Tony, Lora and others at the IRP track maybe 17 years ago to watch Eddie, who was running Midgets back then.  I also me Eddie after that race.

Penske has a lot of money invested in the track and series, so I hope that he does well this year.  Last year, I'm sure that he took it in the shorts with no fans.

I'm happy for those who enjoy attending the races.  Husband was once a big NASCAR fan.  Never missed a Sunday broadcast.  We attended two races, both at LVMS.  Good seats, but afterwards decided the juice wasn't worth the squeeze for us...better on TV.   But again, you either like all that goes with being there, the anticipation of going, wearing your favorite driver's shirts and hats, the general atmosphere of excitement...or you'd rather see every wreck, every pit stop etc. up close on TV, instant replays, etc.   Like football, golf, etc., love those close ups and instant replays. 

But, being with friends who enjoy it as much as you do, that's the prize, makes it fun.  Husband still likes going now and then to our little dinky track 10 miles from our house, for some reason.  I guess because it isn't any effort to go, last minute decision, no parking issues, etc.  I went with him once.  He graciously took me home about 20 minutes into it, then returned.  I'm glad he enjoys it.

Candy

If my brother didn't love it so much, I likely wouldn't attend.  He drives in every year, so I make sure to do it up right for him and the others.  I enjoy the socializing at the tailgate as much or more than the race.  Having seats in the turn is critical for me.