Indy 500 plans to admit fans but only at 50% capacity

Associated Press
Friday, June 26, 2020 6:10 p.m. | Friday, June 26, 2020 6:10 p.m.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is empty May 24. The Indianapolis 500 was postponed to Aug. 23, and the track plans to admit fans up to 50% capacity. AP

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is empty May 24. The Indianapolis 500 was postponed to Aug. 23, and the track will admit fans up to 50% capacity.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis 500 will run in August with 50% fan capacity, a total that still could hit six figures at famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Indy 500 was bumped from its traditional May date because of the coronavirus pandemic. The 104th Indy 500 will run Aug. 23 at half the total of what is traditionally one of the biggest sporting events of the year. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” can pack about 250,000 fans in the spacious speedway, leaving plenty of room if the total is limited to half that.

“We’re committed to running the Indy 500 on Sunday, Aug. 23, and will welcome fans to the world’s greatest racing venue,” IMS president J. Douglas Boles said. “We will be limiting attendance to approximately 50%, and we are also finalizing a number of additional carefully considered health and safety measures.”

The IMS team is working with public health officials to complete a comprehensive plan of health measures.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway will still host an IndyCar-NASCAR doubleheader July 4 weekend without fans.