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Indy 500 Will Run In August With IMS Grandstands At 50 Percent Capacity

By Samantha Horton, IPB News | Published on in Business, Health, Sports
(Photo: Lauren Chapman/IPB News)

As the Indianapolis Motor Speedway prepares to host a pandemic- postponed Indy 500 in August, it says fans will still be able to attend. But the speedway will limit the crowd to 50 percent capacity.

IMS does not officially release attendance numbers. But with the reduced capacity, it’s expected to welcome between 100,000 and 200,000 fans.

As of now, no announcement has been made whether to lift the broadcast blackout in the Indianapolis area due to limited attendance on race day.

In addition to reducing capacity at the venue, Boles said, track officials are also finalizing “additional carefully considered health and safety measures,” adding that specific details will emerge in the near future.

Read More: Penske Upgrades Indianapolis Motor Speedway For Indy 500, 5G Services Will Be Available

Track officials encouraged spectators to buy or reserve tickets online for the Indy 500 in August. They also said people age 65 or older, or anyone with underlying health conditions, should stay home, citing health experts’ safety recommendations.

NPR contributed to this report.