10 things every Indy 500 fan needs on race day

2 days ago 1

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis 500 is “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

It’s also a long day that requires some planning if you go.

Gates open at 6 a.m. on race day.

Pre-race festivities begin around 10 a.m. and the green flag is scheduled to drop around 12:45 p.m. It usually takes about three hours to run the race, depending on how many caution periods there are, and for how long.

Weather can also impact the race. Because of the high speeds involved, it is not possible to race on ovals in wet conditions, unlike road courses and street circuits. This means rain could delay the race, as it did in 2024.

To get you through the day, here’s a list of ten items to make your race just a little more enjoyable.

Ear protection

Like all motorsports, IndyCar racing is loud. Franciscan Health estimates noise can peak as high as 140 decibels, far above the hearing loss threshold. Fortunately, ear protection is easy to find, from noise-canceling headphones to simple foam earplugs.

Those foam earplugs are inexpensive and highly effective. They can be found in any hardware store, sporting goods store, or even the pharmacy section of some grocery stores.