Indianapolis 500

[kidrock]

It's been reported the Indy 500 reserve seating is sold out for this years race. Now if we can see an American win this race. Nothing against the foreign drivers but, I would like to see an American win this race.

[CIRF]

I heard the same thing, Kid. The past several years IMS has been close to sold out for the 500 but there were assorted empty seats in the North short chute and in what used to be Tower Terrace (not sure what they call those stands now).

A packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 100th running will illicit memories of when we first began going to the 500. Back when the Snakepit was rife with debauchery and nudity and to get a Penthouse seat you had to pay almost double face price! I've read where ticket brokers are asking $1000.00 a seat for turn 1 Penthouse seats!

I'm also with you on the American driver winning the 100th 500. Bryan Clauson would be my ultimate favorite to win it and Ed Carpenter would be a close second. Reason being I've watched both of those guys run the dirt tracks in front engine cars, mainly USAC Silver Crown cars.

Really looking forward to going to Indy this year!!

[TS FAN]

There is so little fan fare anymore for this event. It is really a shame. I am not even sure how many American drivers are entered.

[formercrewguy]

Montoya will win. Wasn't he born in South Central LA? lol

[CIRF]

There is so little fan fare anymore for this event. It is really a shame. I am not even sure how many American drivers are entered.

You're right, there is less hoopla than there was back in the early 1990's, but for this year anyway, it's sold out and that means there are right around 270,000 who have their tickets. That's a fair amount of interest all by itself. Our seats are in A-Stand Penthouse which is right at the exit of pit lane. We've had them for 4 years now. There are tickets located in our section for sale on Stubhub for over $1100.00 asking price.

I will be watching with interest as to how many attend Pole Qualifying Day. It won't be 100,000 like it once was but I'm convinced there will be more asses in the stands than in the recent past.

American drivers currently entered in the Indianapolis 500:

Marco Andretti
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Conor Daly
Graham Rahal
Josef Newgarden
J.R. Hildebrand
Sage Karam

And my favorite American drivers entered in the 100th running of the Indy 500:

Ed Carpenter
Bryan Clauson

I can't imagine the stir that drivers like Rico Abreu, Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson would generate if they had chosen to go Indy Car racing as opposed to NASCAR. Especially for this year's Indy 500. Clauson by himself has legions of dirt racing fans abuzz.

[old fan]

more money in NASCAR

[CIRF]

more money in NASCAR

There he is ladies & gentlemen, Captain Obvious spew's his infamous pearls of wisdom, once again! LOLOL!!

[old fan]

just stating the facts ,young driver will go where the money and longevity is

[CIRF]

Just got done reading through the literature that accompanied our tickets for the Indy 500 this year. The Speedway folks are strongly stressing that spectators arrive at The Speedway and get processed through security much, much earlier for this years 500 than in past years.

In the past cooler size and bags containing fans belongings were not scrutinized to any significant degree. Sounds like it's going to be a whole different experience for the 100th running. 275,000+ spectators attempting to get through admission gates could pose a challenge. Hopefully The Speedway has compensated for the added security and slightly larger crowd.

Not necessarily a bad thing but something to be considered, nonetheless.

[Clayton_Wetter]

There he is ladies & gentlemen, Captain Obvious spew's his infamous pearls of wisdom, once again! LOLOL!!

[CIRF]

Clayton, that fits to a tee!!

Where do you find this stuff?

[TS FAN]

That is more American drivers than i thought. That is good. Looking forward to the events.

[CIRF]

That is more American drivers than i thought. That is good. Looking forward to the events.

Power, the 9 Americans entered could increase as qualifying looms nearer. Not sure who might be waiting in the wings that could possibly get a ride and up the total of Americans but it's still a possibility.

Actually, the nine entered this year is down a couple from 2013, 2014 and 2015 which saw 11 American drivers qualified for the 500 each of those years respectively. Ed Carpenter sat on the pole in 2013 & 2014 and I can't remember the last time an American driver sat on the pole two years in a row.

Ed Carpenter actually had a great chance of winning in 2014 if not for a bone headed move by Hinchcliffe going low into turn 1 and making it 3 wide with Carpenter in the middle and Townsend Bell on the outside. Carpenter was running 2nd behind eventual winner Ryan Hunter-Reay (both Americans, by the way). Hinchcliffe clacked wheels with Carpenter sending them both into the wall on exit of turn 1. That was a kamikaze move that never had a chance to be successful. I like Hunter-Reay but would have much preferred to see the former USAC Silver Crown driver, Carpenter, win but it wasn't to be.

[Clayton_Wetter]

more money in NASCAR

The indy 500 will pay $2.5 million to the winner and a $13.4 million purse. And the owner will be the real winner.

[old fan]

that's true but one race does not make a season or carreer