INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Indianapolis, Indiana
Event date: Indianapolis 500, May 24.
The circuit: The oval is 2.5 miles as it was designed more than a century ago (first race held in 1909). The flat straightaways are five-eighths of a mile in length and measure 50 feet in width. The four corners, banked at 9 degrees and 12 minutes, are 60 feet wide. The north and south chutes are a quarter-mile long.
Tickets: Tickets can be obtained here. Consider buying a bronze or silver badge for pit and garage access.
Storylines for 2020: As usual, there are many, and they will continue to develop in the four months ahead. For starters, Helio Castroneves will have his 11th opportunity to score a record-tying fourth victory. Team Penske, which has won the past two 500s, will be aiming for a record-extending 19th. Reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden will be determined to join Roger Penske’s prestigious winner’s club, a membership comprised of Mark Donohue, Rick Mears, Bobby Unser, Danny Sullivan, Al Unser, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr., Castroneves, Gil de Ferran, Sam Hornish Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power and Simon Pagenaud. For the record, Penske has won three 500s in succession only once prior (2001-03). Andretti Autosport could have association with as many as seven cars, and it’s a strong possibility that two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso is driving one of them. Ed Carpenter has won three poles, but he is still seeking his first win.
Newcomers: Alexander Rossi was the last first-time starter to win the 500, in 2016, and prior to that it was Castroneves in 2001. This year’s group will have even greener first-timers. Oliver Askew (Arrow McLaren SP), Rinus VeeKay (Ed Carpenter Racing) and Alex Palou (Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh) at this point have never started an Indy car race much less the 500. Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren SP) failed to qualify as a rookie last year. There still could be more rookies added to the entry list as several teams have not named drivers. Colton Herta, who has moved to Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport, was a rookie in last year’s race, but he managed only three laps due to his car suffering mechanical failure.
Miller Lite Carb Day: Friday, May 22 will be one of the biggest days of the month, with a practice, an Indy Lights race, the pit stop competition and the concert featuring REO Speedwagon and Styx capping the festivities. Tickets can be obtained here.
Firestone Legends Day concert: The concert on Saturday, May 23 featurescountry music sensation Luke Bryan. Tickets can be obtained here.
Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light: This is the infield concert on race day (Sunday, May 24), is headlined by EDM superstar Martin Garrix. Live performances by Galantis, Rezz, Steve Aoki and Yellow Claw add to the experience. Tickets can be obtained here. All Snake Pit attendees must also hold a valid Indy 500 race day ticket.
PAST WINNERS:
1911 (AAA): Ray Harroun
1912 (AAA): Joe Dawson
1913 (AAA): Jules Goux
1914 (AAA): Rene Thomas
1915 (AAA): Ralph DePalma
1916 (AAA): Dario Resta
1919 (AAA): Howdy Wilcox
1920 (AAA): Gaston Chevrolet
1921 (AAA): Tommy Milton
1922 (AAA): Jimmy Murphy
1923 (AAA): Tommy Milton
1924 (AAA): L.L. Corum-J.Boyer
1925 (AAA): Peter DePaolo
1926 (AAA): Frank Lockhart
1927 (AAA): George Souders
1928 (AAA): Louis Meyer
1929 (AAA): Ray Keech
1930 (AAA): Billy Arnold
1931 (AAA): Louis Schneider
1932 (AAA): Fred Frame
1933 (AAA): Louis Meyer
1934 (AAA): Bill Cummings
1935 (AAA): Kelly Petillo
1936 (AAA): Louis Meyer
1937 (AAA): Wilbur Shaw
1938 (AAA): Floyd Roberts
1939 (AAA): Wilbur Shaw
1940 (AAA): Wilbur Shaw
1941 (AAA): F.Davis-Mauri Rose
1946 (AAA): George Robson
1947 (AAA): Mauri Rose
1948 (AAA): Mauri Rose
1949 (AAA): Bill Holland
1950 (AAA): Johnnie Parsons
1951 (AAA): Lee Wallard
1952 (AAA): Troy Ruttman
1953 (AAA): Bill Vukovich
1954 (AAA): Bill Vukovich
1955 (AAA): Bob Sweikert
1956 (USAC): Pat Flaherty
1957 (USAC): Sam Hanks
1958 (USAC): Jimmy Bryan
1959 (USAC): Rodger Ward
1960 (USAC): Jim Rathmann
1961 (USAC): A.J. Foyt
1962 (USAC): Rodger Ward
1963 (USAC): Parnelli Jones
1964 (USAC): A.J. Foyt
1965 (USAC): Jim Clark
1966 (USAC): Graham Hill
1967 (USAC): A.J. Foyt
1968 (USAC): Bobby Unser
1969 (USAC): Mario Andretti
1970 (USAC): Al Unser
1971 (USAC): Al Unser
1972 (USAC): Mark Donohue
1973 (USAC): Gordon Johncock
1974 (USAC): Johnny Rutherford
1975 (USAC): Bobby Unser
1976 (USAC): Johnny Rutherford
1977 (USAC): A.J. Foyt
1978 (USAC): Al Unser
1979 (USAC): Rick Mears
1980 (USAC): Johnny Rutherford
1981 (USAC): Bobby Unser
1982 (USAC): Gordon Johncock
1983 (USAC): Tom Sneva
1984 (USAC): Rick Mears
1985 (USAC): Danny Sullivan
1986 (USAC): Bobby Rahal
1987 (USAC): Al Unser
1988 (USAC): Rick Mears
1989 (USAC): Emerson Fittipaldi
1990 (USAC): Arie Luyendyk
1991 (USAC): Rick Mears
1992 (USAC): Al Unser Jr.
1993 (USAC): Emerson Fittipaldi
1994 (USAC): Al Unser Jr.
1995 (USAC): Jacques Villeneuve
1996 (USAC): Buddy Lazier
1997 (USAC): Arie Luyendyk
1998 (IRL): Eddie Cheever
1999 (IRL): Kenny Brack
2000 (IRL): Juan Pablo Montoya
2001 (IRL): Helio Castroneves
2002 (IRL): Helio Castroneves
2003 (IRL): Gil de Ferran
2004 (IRL): Buddy Rice
2005 (IRL): Dan Wheldon
2006 (IRL): Sam Hornish Jr.
2007 (IRL): Dario Franchitti
2008 (IRL): Scott Dixon
2009 (IRL): Helio Castroneves
2010 (IRL): Dario Franchitti
2011 (INDYCAR): Dan Wheldon
2012 (INDYCAR): Dario Franchitti
2013 (INDYCAR): Tony Kanaan
2014 (INDYCAR): Ryan Hunter-Reay
2015 (INDYCAR): Juan Pablo Montoya
2016 (INDYCAR): Alexander Rossi
2017 (INDYCAR): Takuma Sato
2018 (INDYCAR): Will Power
2019 (INDYCAR): Simon Pagenaud