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Subject: Paging Indy 500 vets...
Posted by: The Beezer
- Leader [191202817] Mon, Jan 08, 2007, 00:26
My future stepdad and I are looking to attend this year's 500, but we don't have a good grasp on what's a decent seat and what isn't. We're looking to spend no more than $100. The Indy 500 web site doesn't appear to have a tool that allows you to see the view from a prospective seat, so that's why I'm looking to the board's expertise for help on this.
Thanks in advance. |
| 1 | Frick
Donor
ID: 3410101718
Mon, Jan 08, 2007, 10:13
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Well congrats on your first 500, it is a fun experience.
What are your plans for the day? Since you will be with your future in-law I'm guessing that passing out in the grass is out of the question (and really, really not recommended as it is a quick way to get arrested.)
You want to be on the outside unless you are on Pit Lane near the start/finish line. IMO the best seats are the outside turns, preferably 1 & 4 (Westside of the track, south for 1, north for 4) From these seats (dependent on which section) you can see the short shoots and straightaway. I've sat in the NW vista a couple of times and they are good seats. You see the cars exit out of 3, go through 4 and start down the front straight.
I don't know if you have ever been to a race, but realize the size of Indy, when you are sitting in turn 4 it is hard to see turn 1, due to the distance.
To put it in perspective check out this picture
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| 2 | Perm Dude
ID: 4401389
Mon, Jan 08, 2007, 10:14
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ROFL! Love that pic!
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| 3 | Great One
Sustainer
ID: 053272014
Mon, Jan 08, 2007, 10:29
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I thought he was looking for any of us who actually raced in it lol...
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| 4 | Frick
Donor
ID: 3410101718
Mon, Jan 08, 2007, 10:35
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I've actually driven around the track once.
Granted I don't think I cracked 40 mph. I can't remember which day it is, but one of the days during the Month of May they open up the track to anyone and you can do a lap.
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| 5 | Great One
Sustainer
ID: 053272014
Mon, Jan 08, 2007, 11:12
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I actually raced for real at Pocono!
karts - and half on the infield and half through the infield, but thats pretty good, right? lol...
Indy would be awesome.
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| 6 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Mon, Jan 08, 2007, 20:26
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Cool - thanks for the responses. I knew it was big, but that pic definitely puts it in perspective.
I hadn't thought much about sitting in the outside corners, but it makes a lot of sense. I've been to several NASCAR races but nothing bigger than 1.5 miles, so I knew the bigger size would affect the ability to see the track.
I'll be sure to follow up on how it goes. Thanks!
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| 7 | Frick
ID: 21041187
Mon, Jan 08, 2007, 21:58
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I'll give you some more advice.
Bring some sun block if there is any chance of it being sunny. You will fry in the stands, there are very, very few seats that will be in the shade. Along the same lines, bring some bottles of water also.
Wear comfortable shoes, you are going to be doing alot of walking, even if you just go from your car to your seat plan on walking a couple of miles. Depending on where you park and if you want to explore before, during or after the race, you don't want to wear uncomfortable shoes.
Lunch - You can order a box lunch from the track, if you can't find it on the IMS website let me know and I'll track it down. You walk in, and they hand you a box with food and a couple of drinks. You can get soda or beer, and I think you can even get an ice filled bag to put the drinks in. You can also get extra drinks. You can carry a cooler in, less than 17" IIRC, but when you are walking that far, it gets really, really heavy. Plus you can't take it up to your seat so you have to keep walking up and down to get anything.
Ear plugs are a requirement, they sell them at the track (the cheap kind for $5 or $10), but bring your own and get decent ones, like the kinda that the pit guys wear. I've been to all 3 races and for some reason Indy cars seem the loudest to me, probably do to the higher pitch.
Don't plan on being in a hurry that day. Traffic flow is remarkably decent. Depending on where you park at, I've made it home in less than an hour (normally about 20-30 minutes. It all depends on where and how you park. Getting into the race has changed over the years. With the decreasing number of people who can park inside the track, no more snakepit, the decrease in interest (sad, but true), and the later starting times, getting to the track isn't nearly as bad as it used to be. I've gotten to the track as early as 7 and as late as 20 minutes before the start of the race. It is up to you, but there is quite a bit of stuff to do and see before the race to keep you entertained, if you don't mind walking.
I would also recommend a radio or scanner, it is impossible to hear the PA system when the cars are running. Another option is a portable TV, the race isn't broadcast in or around Indy, but there is a transmitter inside the track, at least there has been for the last several years.
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| 8 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Mon, Jan 08, 2007, 23:44
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That's exactly the kind of info I usually overlook, so that will help a ton. Thanks a ton.
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| 9 | Frick
Donor
ID: 3410101718
Tue, Jan 09, 2007, 08:28
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When it gets closer to May, let me know which side of Indy you will be staying on and I'll give you some recommendations on getting to the track. There are some ways that I would definately avoid if possible, but it depends on which side of town you are starting on.
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| 10 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Tue, Jan 09, 2007, 12:28
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We'll be coming from Bloomington, so any recommendations would be good.
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| 11 | kenj06
ID: 91481310
Tue, Feb 13, 2007, 12:11
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If you want the full experience I recommend the infield. It's been quite a few years since I've been to the 500 and the last time they had cracked down on the extracurricular activities but it was an experience. Tickets were cheap ($25!) and available day of race and we were able to park in the infield. The advantage of that was being able to keep a cooler full of beverages and food in the car and have it available all day. We were in line to get into the track at 4AM thought and didn’t make it in until 8.
More recently I've been to the 400, in the stands, backstretch about 2 sections from the corner only 7 rows up. The higher you get the better, when you're low you only see the cars a split second as they whiz by. Corners are good as you can see the cars coming out of the corner and down most of the straightaway. As for parking, the general rule is the less you pay the further you walk. When not in the infield I’ve parked in people’s yards, relaxed a while and enjoyed drinks and sandwiches before and after the race. Talk to the owner after the race, they usually have some shortcuts to avoid the traffic. Last time we were back on the highway in about 30 minutes. Being in the city has its advantages as the traffic does flow well after the race compared to other tracks I’ve been too. There is a lot to do at the track but it involves miles of walking.
Enjoy!
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| 12 | blue hen
Leader
ID: 710321114
Tue, Feb 13, 2007, 13:55
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Wow, here is what you can fit inside the Indy track:
- Yankee Stadium
- Entire Wimbledon Complex (not just the stadiums)
- Roman Coliseum
- Kentucky Derby Track
- All of Vatican City
Wow.
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| 13 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Tue, Feb 13, 2007, 18:24
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Just bought tickets the other day, up in turn 4. Should be high enough up to see a fair amount of the race. Thanks for the tips everyone.
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| 14 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Sun, Jun 03, 2007, 23:18
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Well, other than the rain, this was a most excellent outing. Much thanks to everyone that contributed. I was a moron and left my sunblock at home, but the overcast conditions kept me in good shape. Fortunately the future father-in-law is a very prepared guy so we had ponchos at the ready and plenty to eat (tragically, we ran out of beer and had to buy more, but them's the breaks).
I gotta admit that I was not thrilled that Dario won the race, but that was because I was hoping for the winner to be either an Andretti or a female, for historical reasons. Plus, I think Mr. Ashley Judd was doing well enough already, if you know what I mean. Also a shame that Jim Nabors wasn't there, even if I kept getting confused and wanted to sing "My Old Kentucky Home". Wrong May race. So I may need to come back, which wouldn't make me sad at all.
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| 15 | Frick
Donor
ID: 3410101718
Mon, Jun 04, 2007, 08:42
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Glad you had a good time Beezer. At least they got the race in. I didn't really care for Sam Hornish Jr. before, but after he blocked so fiercely that he caused to people to lose their shot at the race, one his teammate, I really hate him now.
A friend of mine know Tomas Scheckter and because of that I was rooting for him. When Hornish nearly ran him into the wall, and they touched breaking Scheckter's front spoiler I was beyond mad. Oh well it happens and at least Scheckter came back and finished in the top-10, but I thought he had a shot at a win.
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| 16 | ??
ID: 06451417
Sat, Jul 14, 2007, 18:45
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| 17 | FRICK
ID: 411053267
Sat, May 24, 2008, 09:34
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Anyone going this year. Sadly I'm not going again.
I read an article in the local paper talking about some of the famous crashes. #3 was Roberto Gurero's pre-race crash in 1988. That was my first year going to the race.
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| 18 | Great One
ID: 2241519
Sat, May 24, 2008, 10:39
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Lets have a pick'em! I got Kanaan.
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| 19 | Frick
ID: 52182321
Sun, May 22, 2011, 18:10
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Bittersweet moment for Michael Andretti as his son
makes it into the race as the last qualifier, but
bumped one of his other cars out of the race.
Should be an interesting race, some of cars that
qualified in the middle and back have a chance to
move up and contend for the win.
I'm going to the race this year and our seats are
right across from the jump, so I'll have to make
sure to get in plenty early for that.
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