Sold-Out Stands and High Energy as Indianapolis 500 Roars to Life

 

Sold-Out Stands and High Energy as Indianapolis 500 Roars to Life

A historic day in motorsports was put in motion on Sunday morning as thousands of racing enthusiasts poured through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's gates. To honor "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," some people showed up shirtless, some dressed in American flag overalls, while others wore striking checkered flag miniskirts.

With the Indiana Pacers playing the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals later that night, numerous supporters erupted in a loud "Let’s Go Pacers!" cry as they made their way through the main tunnel, almost five hours before the green flag dropped.

Record Crowd Expected for 109th Running of the Indy 500

The grandstands were fully booked for the first time since 2016, and IndyCar anticipated that the grounds would be packed with about 350,000 spectators. One of the speedway's tunnels was even forced to close to motorized cars four hours before race time due to the high volume of foot traffic.

The 109th Indianapolis 500 promised spectacle and history with its crowded stands, fervent spectators, and ideal weather.

Pato O’Ward and Alex Palou Lead the Betting Favorites

One of the day's leading candidates and possible first Mexican racer to win the Indianapolis 500 race is Pato O'Ward, who starts third. With four wins in the first five races this season, two-time IndyCar champ Alex Palou, who is also the favorite, shares the top spot. Palou additionally seeks to make history by being the first Spanish person to win the famous race.

A Rookie Makes History on the Front Row

Robert Shwartzman, who a dual-citizen of Russia and Israel, will surprise everyone by taking the field to green as a rookie, something that hasn't happened since 1983. Shwartzman is the first Israeli driver to race in the annual Indianapolis 500 and competes for Prema Racing in its IndyCar debut. His success is made even more intriguing by the fact that the 25-year-old has never raced on an oval.

All Eyes on Team Penske’s Comeback from the Back

Josef Newgarden, the current winner, and Will Power, a teammate from Team Penske, will start from places 32 and 33, for example, after being dropped to the bottom of the grid due to inspection problems. Newgarden is aiming for a historic first by winning the Indianapolis 500 race three years in a row. Rivals already expect the Penske cars to be among the fastest on the course, while starting from the back row, so it will be a thrilling comeback to behold.

NASCAR’s Kyle Larson Attempts the Double Again

By competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600, Kyle Larson, who starts 19th at Indianapolis and 2nd in Charlotte, is attempting once more to complete the fabled "Double"—racing 1,100 miles in a single day. He was unable to attend the NASCAR race last year due to rain-related delays in Indianapolis. Larson will get at Charlotte Motor Speedway in time for the start this year, according to a commitment made by Hendrick Motorsports.