A First Look at This Year’s Indy 500

With Memorial Day coming up, it’s time to prepare for this year’s Indianapolis 500. Ever since 1911 when Ray Harroun won the race in a little over six and a half hours at a blistering 74 miles per hour, this top open wheel race in the nation has been a fixture of the three day weekend since it began more than a century ago. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s big race.

Where is the Indy 500 Held?

If you think that the Indianapolis 500 is held in Indianapolis, then you are way off. It’s in Speedway, Indiana, which is adjacent to Indianapolis. Okay, so it’s technically a suburb. And be thankful that it is if you are planning to go, since its location on the west side of Circle City means that it’s closer to the airport and parking is slightly better. But the coolest thing about the town is that, as home of the big race, there are tons of auto museums, shops, and general shenanigans to get into the spirit while you are hanging out on race day.

Who Are the Indy Racers to Watch?

Perhaps the biggest story is whether Helio Castroneves will take a position among the likes of Al Unser, A.J. Foyt, and Rick Mears as the winningest drivers of all time, each of whom has four victories to Castroneves’ three. If he succeeds, he will be the first non-American in the group (as a Brazilian). It’s also his last race with Team Penske, as he will be switching over to IMSA WeatherTech for the rest of the season.

Last year’s winner Takuma Sato is also looking to repeat after becoming the first Japanese driver and first non-caucasian to top the race last year. This will be his first race with Rahal Letterman Lanigan. Danica Patrick will also rejoin the race for the first time in seven years, on board with Ed Carpenter Racing.

IndyCar Series Schedule & Ticket Links

The IndyCar Series is already underway (VIEW THE FULL SCHEDULE HERE), but there are plenty of races to check out nationwide including a few before the main event. If you are in the south, the Honda Indy Grand Prix will be held in Leeds on April 22 at Barber Motorsports Park, or you can wait it out until June 9 for the DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Indy 500 Tickets on SeatGeek

For midwesterners the main event is, of course, the Indy 500 itself on May 27, but there are a ton of events in the area to check out as well, including the IndyCar Grand Prix (also in Speedway) taking place a couple of weeks earlier on May 12. Other events in the region include the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on June 2 at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, MI; the Kohler Grand Prix in Elkhart Lake, WI on June 24; the Iowa Corn 300 in Newton on July 8; the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington on July 29; the ABC Supply 500 at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA on August 19; and the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, IL on August 25.

If you live in the West or are planning a trip out there, maybe holding out until September is more up your alley with the Grand Prix of Portland at the Portland International Raceway in Oregon on September 2. Or you can check out the Grand Prix of Sonoma at the Sonoma Raceway in California on September 16. And, so our northern neighbors don’t feel left out, there is always Honda Indy Toronto in Ontario at the Exhibition Place on July 15. 

Historic Indy 500 Ticket Prices

Indy 500 resale ticket prices by year.