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Indy 500 Reduces Number Of Spectators To 25 Percent

By Samantha Horton, IPB News | Published on in Health, Sports
Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host the Indy 500 Aug. 23 with a limited number of spectators. (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host the Indy 500 Aug. 23 with a limited number of spectators. (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) announced Tuesday fan attendance will be further limited to the Indy 500.

Last month, IMS officials announced the race would reduce the number of spectators to 50 percent. Now only 25 percent will be allowed to watch the event at the track.

While no official numbers are released for each year’s attendance, estimates suggest more than 50,000 people would still being able to attend the race.

“We want to demonstrate that even under current circumstances, people can gather with carefully planned procedures in place so we don’t have to go back to shutting down our country and our community,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles in a media release.

For those that do come to the race, several precautionary measures are planned including spreading out attendees more, requiring face masks, and temperature checks at the gates.

With the additional fan limitations, no announcement has yet been made if the broadcast blackout in the Indianapolis area will be lifted for this year’s race.

Contact reporter Samantha at shorton@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @SamHorton5.