Darron Cummings / Associated Press
The 104th Indianapolis 500 mile race on August 23 will be held with approximately 25 percent fan capacity, and all spectators will be required to wear masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers announced Tuesday. of the career.
Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles explained the decision in the press release:
“In June, we announced that the race was underway and that attendance would be limited to no more than 50 percent of capacity. We also made it clear that we intended to do things differently this year. Offering credits to Fans who had previously purchased tickets, encouraging those over 65 to stay home, limit in-box attendance, reduce tickets to our suites, and promise fans that their decision not to attend would not affect their seniority or entitlement to renewing tickets for 2021, we now anticipate attendance at approximately 25 percent of capacity. “We will welcome fans and have an aggressive plan in place, which has been developed through collaboration with national health experts, state and local. “
Seating arrangements will also take into account safe social distancing, attendees will be provided with hand sanitizer, and everyone entering the venue will need to take their temperature before entry is allowed.
Nathan brown of the Indianapolis Star reported that the approximate size of the crowd, estimated to be around 87,500 people – would be the smallest since 83,000 fans attended in 1916.
The race was originally scheduled to run. May 24, but was rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The organizers of the race made it clear that they had no intention of holding the race without spectators.
“A 500-mile race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway without fans would be just that, a 500-mile race without fans.” IMS President Doug Boles said to Indianapolis Star in June. “And that’s not the Indy 500. To have the Indy 500, you must have fans.”
Miles added Tuesday:
“We look forward to welcoming fans to the 500 in person. Our outdoor facilities are huge, and with an attendance of around 25 percent, it will certainly look different this year. We want to demonstrate that even in current circumstances, People can come together with carefully planned procedures so that we don’t have to close our country and our community again. “
As for the race itself, Simon Pagenaud will hope to repeat his victory of the 2019 season. The race has had no consecutive victories by a driver since Helio Castroneves accomplished the feat in 2001 and 2002. Pagenaud takes second place in the IndyCar standings behind Scott Dixon, who won the first three races in the series. Josef Newgarden, Pato O’Ward and Will Power complete the top five.
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