Indy 500 weekend?

I%26#39;m heading to Indianapolis from Chicago for the Indy 500 with my boyfriend . We are leaving early on Sat the 23rd of May and have tix for the race. Does anyone know how General Admission tickets work, since that is what we got. Also what are some things we can do on Sat when we arrive? We will head back home on Monday the 25th of May.

Thanks, Leslie

Indy 500 weekend?

General Admission tickets get you into the massive infield area of the track. Prime infield viewing areas are typically difficult to come by, as people stake-out their claims on the viewing mounds and such pretty early on Race Day morning. But if it%26#39;s just you and your boyfriend, you%26#39;ll probably be o.k. (larger groups might have to split up).

Among the great spots to check out:

First Turn (probably the most difficult to find a good viewing area, and also the most exciting infield place to be at the start of the race).

Exit to Turn Two - watch the door get slammed on drivers attempting to complete short-chute passes

End of Back Straight/Entrance to Turn Three - many great passes are completed here, and the drivers jockey for proper entrance position into the turn.

North Chute and Turn Four - also very popular spectator mounds here; plenty of action in the short chute leading to Turn Four.

Turn Four exit and beginning of main straight - see %26#39;em heading for the green flag - the GREATEST MOMENT IN ALL OF SPORTS - or the checkered flag; as with Turn Two, much action as drivers complete - or attempt to complete - short chute passes.

You may also want to move around from area to area as the race progresses, to see the different types of action in the different locations (including some of the infield action that still occurs, although it%26#39;s WAYYYY more tame than the good ol%26#39; days in the 70%26#39;s and 80%26#39;s).

Bring plenty of food and drink (check IMS website for restrictions on coolers - I think 15'; coolers are as big as you can bring in), and plenty of sunscreen, and be ready for a diversity of pre-, post-, and during race action ...

I%26#39;ll leave it to others to help you with things to do on Saturday. HAVE A GREAT TIME AT THE RACE! I%26#39;m envious ! !

Indy 500 weekend?

Depending on what time you get to town on Saturday, you could check out The 500 Festival parade in downtown. I think it starts at 11:00. It%26#39;s the third biggest parade in the US behind macy%26#39;s Thanksgiving and The Rose Bowl parades. Tix available online at 500festival.com or there are places to view for free. Usually takes about two hours and all 33 drivers will be in the parade in the new Camaro convertibles! Plenty of things to do in downtwon Indy, depending on what you like. On race day be prepared to leave early! Remember there will be upwards of 200,000 spectators so traffic will be HEAVY! If tired of te infield you might be able to get in seats on the north end between turns 3 and 4. In the past few years there have been some empty seats. Be prepared to do a lot of walking. IMS is a two and a half mile oval AND BE SURE to make sure you have a good view for the START of the race, the most exciting event in sports!!!

thank you both so much for all the info.

One more thing ... It used to be kind of easy to park inside the track on Race Day. With the re-jiggering of the golf course, and the creation of the infield road course for F1 and MotoGP, infield parking was cut by more than 50%. If you get your car in line the night before the 500, or VERY early on Race Day (before 5a) - you MIGHT park inside the track. Otherwise, you%26#39;ll have to walk in.

If walking in, your parking spot becomes pretty critical - - if you want to sit in Turn One, the South Chute, or Turn Two, you don%26#39;t want to park in the North 40 (the large lot on the north side of the track, accessible via 30th St.) or the Coke lot (northwest of the track. You%26#39;ll want to park at the abandoned strip mall across the track on 16th Street, or any of the pay lots on 16th St. or Georgetown Road near the track. And if you want to sit in Turns Three or Four, or the North Chute, or the north ends of the front or back straight - the North 40 or the Coke lots are better options.

In my recent experience, the 16th Street parking tends to get you in and out quicker than the north options (although ';quick'; is a relative term here, walking through the sea of humanity after the race is an adventure in and of itself ... and the lines to exit the parking areas and clear the congested areas can take from only a few minutes to an hour or more).

As stated previously, if you get in early enough on Saturday the parade is an otpion, if you like parades. You could hang out downtown the rest of the day especially if it is nice weather. Walk the canal, visit the circle, etc. Also, might want to check out Broad Ripple. If you are into patying people hang out around the track on Saturday night but I would not do it. Next time consider coming into town thursday night and partaking in ';Carb Day'; festivities, it is a lot of fun and it gives you a chance to see the track and familiarize yourself with drivers. It is an all day event with a concert at the end (this year is 3 doors down). As far as race day, try to be in the first turn for the start it is an unbelievable scene. But touring around to different spots is a great suggestion. My wife and I went with a few couples 2or3 years ago and I have been a number of times. I always get seats in turn one and my wife and the other girls actually walked around the infield during the race. Just remember to give yourself plenty of time before and after and don%26#39;t expect to get anywhere quickly you will never see as many people in one event for the rest of your life. Enjoy the Indy 500!

What would be the best time to get to the race track?

What time should we leave out of indianapolis? Is there only one entrance? Which might be the easiest to get into if there are multiples.

Thanks again!

There are a number of entrances on Race Day. The one you want to use will depend on where you want to sit for the race.

There are several entrances along 16th St. - the south side of the track. Enter here if you%26#39;re wanting to sit near Turns 1 or 2, the south chute, or the south to middle end of the back stretch. There are entrances along Georgetown Road, if you find a parking space in one of the spots along Georgetown Rd (a bit harder to reach on Race Day than most of the others), you%26#39;ll enter about halfway down the main straight - and could easily go to Turn 1, Turn 4, or the north end of the main straight. The north entrances (off of 30th St.) give you good access to Turns 3 and 4, the north chute, the north end of the backstretch, and the north ends of the two long straightaways.

Almost whichever way you go, you should leave at least four hours before the race - - many leave six or more hours before the race to take in all of the festivities and the high and low-brow pagentry associated with the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Count on at least two hours to get out (may be shorter, but would be good to mentally be prepared for 2 or more, depending on where you park).