Indy 500 May Schedule / Events - Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indy 500 Mini-marathon
7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The month of May will begin with a roar when up to 25,000
runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes cross the start
line at the Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon at
7:30 a.m. The nation's largest half-marathon takes
participants on a scenic 13.1-mile tour of downtown
Indianapolis and a unique lap around the world-famous
Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. To register, go to 500
Festival

Balloon Races
May 1, Friday night - Balloon's inside IMS will glow

May 2, Saturday - Founder's Race - 50 helium balloons take
off. Evening glow.

May 3, Sunday - 100 years Balloon race.

Rookie Orientation
9 a.m               Gates open, $5 admission
9 a.m - 2 p.m.   Firestone Indy Lights Practice
2-5 p.m.           Rookie Orientation

Drivers new to the Indy 500 must pass the driving test
which consists of running consistant laps at three different
speeds, such as 200-210-220. This consists of the drivers
successfully running at various speeds in three sets.

9 a.m                 Gates open, $5 admission
9 a.m - 2 p.m.     Rookie Orientation
2 p.m. - 6 p.m.    Indy 500 Practice

Practice for All Drivers
9 a.m - Gates open, $5 admission.
Noon - 6 p.m. - Track open for practice

Fast Friday
8 a.m.          Gates open, $5 admission
12- 6 p.m.    IRL Practice

Pole Day - 1st Day of Qualifying

Whoever puts together the fastest 4 laps, is on the pole.
Racers try to qualify for the first 11 positions on the grid.
Note: 1 racer on the track at a time during qualifications.
Note: The qualifying action generally "heats up" later in the
day as temperatures cool. The best time to watch
qualifying is between 4-6pm.

7 a.m                    Gates open
9-11 a.m.               IRL Practice
9:30-10:30 a.m.   Live music at Coke Stage
Noon - 6 p.m.        Qualifying
3-4:15 p.m.           Q95 Rock Concert in Turn 3 infield.

$10 admission, children under 5 free.

2nd Day of Qualifications
Racers try to qualify for the middle 11 positions on the grid.

8 am                            Gates open, $10 admission.
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Practice
Noon - 6 p.m.               Qualifying

No Track Activity
Gates open 9 a.m., Free Admission

Practice

Gates open 9 a.m., $5 admission
Noon - 6 p.m. - Track open for practice

3rd Day of Qualifications

Racers try to qualify for the last 11 positions on the grid.

8 a.m.                          Gates open, $10 admission
8-10 a.m.                     Mayors Breakfast
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Practice
Noon - 6 p.m.               Qualifying

Coke Zero Music Fest!

Detailed May Schedule

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 - Rookie Orientation

Thursday, May 7, 2009

M ay Calendar

Bump Day & Armed Forces Day
Last day of qualifying - where racers may get bumped off
of the grid by faster competitors - generally starts
happening in a fury about 5 pm.

8 a.m.                            Gates open
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.    Practice
Noon - 6 p.m.                 Qualifying
2 - 4 p.m.                       Autograph and Pictures

$10 admission - Veterans get in free!

No Track Activity
Gates open 9:00 a.m.
Free Admission

Community Day
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Take a lap around the speedway in your own
car! Tour pits, IRL transport trailers, Pagoda Tower and
Hall of Fame Museum for free! Music and games!

Admission $7. Children under 6 free.

Indy Pro Series Practice & Qualifying

Gates open 8 a.m.
10am - 5p

Indy 500 CARA Fashion Show
Located downtown at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. The show
has drivers, wives, friends and local celebs walking the
runway as models!

More then 1,000 attendees and sponsors raise valuable
funds for local and national children’s charities.

11 a.m.           Social Hour
12 noon          Luncheon
1 p.m.             Fashion Show begins

2009 marks the 28th year for the show.
Tickets are priced at $75 per person and is for charity.
Contact the CARA Charities at (317) 299-2277 or visit the
CARA Fashion Website

Carburation Day

8 a.m.                         Gates open, $10 admission
11 a.m. - noon              Final IndyCar Practice
12:30 - 1 p.m.              Indy Pro Series Race
1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.         Pit Stop Competition
3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.   Carb Day Concert

Last Row Party
5:30 p.m. at the Brickyard Crossing Inn (outside Turn 2)
Features the drivers who qualified on the last row.
Auction, beer and food.
For reservations ($33), contact Debbie Ford at
(317) 472-3952

Drivers Meeting
11:00 a.m. Tower Terrace
Gates open 9 a.m., Free Admission
11 a.m. - Drivers Meeting in front of the Tower.

The 500 Festival Parade - Held in downtown Indianapolis -
the nation's largest motor racing parade featuring floats,
marching bands, giant balloons, special entertainment
groups, and the entire field of qualified drivers of the Indy
500. Join more than 300,0000 people. Reserved seats
cost $12-25. Get them from TicketMaster.

The Snakepit Ball - blacktie affair held downtown at the
Indiana Roof Ballroom. Guests this year include Morgan
Freeman, Jane Pauley, Patrick Dempsy, Melissa Joan Hart
and Jim Caviezel. Music by The Spinners. For tickets call
(317) 614-6400

92nd INDIANAPOLIS 500 MILE RACE

6 a.m.          Gates Open, $20 general admission
12:30 p.m.   Driver Introductions
1 p.m.           Race start (Noon Central Time)
4 p.m.          Race over

Indy 500 Victory Banquet

7 p.m.            Cocktails
8 p.m.            Show begins
10 p.m.           Party begins

You must purchase tickets to this in advance, but you
better do it before May.
Tickets are available for the public to attend the event.
Tickets cost $75 each and can be purchased by contacting
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office at (317)
484-6708.

It is televised!