Shea

I just obtained tickets to the race. I got seats in Section A across from Pit Row in Sec/Box B05 row J. It's a done deal but I am wondering if it's good seating. Anyone out there have knowledge about the seating? I suspect backpacks, etc are not allowed into the race track. Also lodging was limited but got reservations at the Comfort Inn & Suites City Center located on S. Capitol Ave. Anyone been there? Is the location O.K.? What is the best way to get to the track? What is the word on shutttles, taxis, or driving yourself from the downtown area? Also read on this site that there was a parade downtown during race week. Does anyone know what day the parade is? Just beginning with plans so have plenty of research to do but I noticed on the hotel map that there is a promenade along the water west of downtown - is that an attraction place to visit? We drove through Indianapolis last year on a road trip. We didn't stay overnight but did visit the Speedway Museum & took a tour of the track which prompted us to do this trip. What little we saw of Indianapolis looked like a very attractive city. Suggestions or comments to my questions from the local folks in the know would be welcome. Thank you.

dcespedes

Congratulations--sounds like a lot of fun! I've not been to the Indianapolis Speedway (yet!) but here's a link that should prove helpful.

dcespedes

Ooops, here it is...

http://www.brickyard.com/

cd

I see no reason why backpacks would not be permitted. We went to the race once and took cushions to sit on, a picnic lunch and lots of water. If it's a hot day, you'll need the water! I would also throw in one of those $.99 plastic raincoats just in case of rain.The traffic will be awful. We took special buses from downtown to the racetrack and it sure was worth it!

amwosu

Driving to and parking near the track is tough. I live 15 minutes from the track on the westside and we take a "back way" in so I don't know what its like from downtown but go early! I suspect a shuttle is the best option. Downtown Indy has been revitalized and is a good place to wander for food and bars. The canal downtown is okay for wandering, I wouldn't call it a tourist spot, except the memorial for Medal of Honor recipients.

If you are seated across from Pit Row you will be treated to the pit action which is pretty exciting. Its amazing to see them gas up and get new tires in just a matter of seconds. You aren't as likely to see accidents and passing on the straightaway. You will be able to take in food and alcohol but your bags will be checked as you enter the track. Lots of people pack their own picnics of fried chicken or sandwiches. See you there!

Shea

Thanks for the responses. Thanks to you guys & pulling up a lot of websites I have gotten a lot of info on Indianapols. I will drive to the track on a pre-race day to see Gasoline Alley, etc. unless they have a convienent shuttle going from downtown. The ticket folks said they would send me a Drivers Meeting Pass to get me in. You folks have convinced me on race day to take a shuttle to the track. Found out the parade is on Saturday. They talk about tickets on the website but I am pretty sure we should be able to get a good spot to see the parade without purchasing tickets. Still attempting to contact them on tickets or not advice. Thanks again.

indytravel

Shuttle! Ack! No!

I used to take the shuttle in the late 80's. It's great getting in. The buses run down 10th Street from downtown which only allows official vehicles on it: buses, police, escorted bigwigs, etc. It dumps you out at the SW corner of the track which is close to your seats.

The problem is the return. 10th Street is opened for all traffic after the race. The buses are in a stop & go traffic jam with all the other people trying to leave. You're in line with everyone else who wants to get on a bus too. It has taken over 2 hours to get back downtown using the buses.

After a few years of talking with people who lived in the neighborhood I've formulated this strategy. From downtown Indianapolis take Indiana Ave. northwest to 16th street. Turn left on 16th getting into the far right lane of 16th. Drive west about 1.5 mile. Just over the White River bridge turn right onto Lafayette Rd. Head north est up Lafayette Rd. about 1.5 miles and just before 30th street turn left at a light into a strip mall that has the American Vets building in it.

Park at the back of the strip mall. From here it's about a 1 mile walk down 30th street to the north entrance to the track. Reverse the directions to get out. Doing this I've never sat still in my car more than the 5 minutes. It's never taken longer than 45 minutes to get from downtown to my seat or the other way. I walk pretty briskly. It can be quite a haul walking especially if your seats are on the south side of the track. I'd say close to 4 miles round trip.

I'll be in the stands just a section or two north of you. For me it's about a 3 mile round trip walk. Well worth avoiding the traffic hassle if you can do the walk. If you can't do the walk the shuttle will keep your walking to a minimum for your seat location.

Now off to other matters.

You can take coolers into the track. They don't let the monster ones in anymore but you can take a mid-size one that'll hold 12 beers and a lunch for 2. Yes I said beers. You can take alcohol into the track. The only rule is no glass containers. They do check coolers and backpacks but it's gotten pretty lax in the last two years. Alcohol is for sale in the track but you'll pay stadium prices for it. I balance how much cooler weight I'm willing to carry 1.5 miles vs. how much I want to spend at the track.

Weather will be a complete unknown until a few days ahead. I've roasted in the sun when it was 82, soaked in the rain and froze my a** off one year when the temperature was in the mid-50's with a wind chill in the mid-40's. The 99 cent plastic poncho is a great idea. You'll pay 5 times that for the same thing at the track but it will have an Indy 500 logo on it.

The track rents those stadium seat things the ones with a cushion and a small back rest that hooks onto the bleachers. I've not used one yet but friends of mine have reached a "certain age" where they do.

The Comfort Inn is in an odd location. It's south of the RCA Dome and pretty much surrounded by the marshalling field that all the semi's use for hauling stuff to events at the Dome. There's nothing wrong with the area. It just looks kinda industrial. The main post office is distribution area is across Capital Ave. from it. You can walk north from there 3 blocks, go east a block and be at the Omni hotel and an entrance to the Circle Centre Mall.

You won't see many people walking as there's nowhere to walk to other than the hotel. I've been through the area fairly late at 11:00pm and never felt uncomfortable. I do know some people are uncomfortable if there aren't crowds around but I'm not one of those.

There's not much you can do about hotels during a race weekend. Sky-high rates and 3 day minimums abound.

As you can imagine restaurants will be packed. I don't know if you can make reservations or not. I've never eaten downtown the night before a race. I wouldn't be surprised if the restaurants hold a lot of tables for regulars or their friends or race people.

The canal is a very pretty walk. In nice weather there are paddle boats to rent and bikes too. It has some fountains and a granite memorial to the survivors of the USS Indianapolis as well as the aforementioned Congressional Medal of Honor Winner's display. In the area is the Indiana State Museum (probably not so great if you aren't interested in our history though a delightful museum nonetheless,) the Eiteljorg Museum of Southwest Art and the NCAA Hall of Fame Museum.

I don't know if you've found this map of downtown or not, but it's an excellent one. It shows your hotel just south of the Dome.

www.indydt.com/dtmap.html

Shea

Thanks Indytravel for a lot of info. The 1.5 mile walk, I think, is a go with us. How early must we arrive at this parking location to get a spot?

indytravel

No problem Shea.

The race changed this year. It starts at noon instead of 11:00am local time.

I've never had problems parking in this area. There has always been room.

Since you're coming for your first race, I'd leave downtown between 9:30am and 10:00am. It'll take you about an hour to get in as you're unfamiliar with the area and will undoubtly stop and gawk a few times along the way.

This will get you in your seats around 11:00. Plenty of time to get settled and watch the pre-race activies: pace car laps, pace car laps with race queens in them, pace car laps with race car drivers in them, etc.

It's a fun time to be in Indy. If you have any more questions ask away. I'll do what I can.

Shea

For Indytravel: Thanks. Any suggestions on location to view the parade?

indytravel

I'm a little embarrassed to admit this but I've never been to the parade...

I've gone to the Indy 500 every year for almost 20 now with a group of 12 from college. We hang out at my house the day before, swim if it's warm, sit on the porch if it's not, drink beer either way but no parade.

Shea

Thanks indytravel. That's O.K. Sitting around relaxing & drinking beer is a pretty good alternative to parade watching. I will let you know how it was upon my return. No more questions for now but you have been pretty informative up to now so I will let this slide.

indytravel

Too funny shea!

I'll try to remember to top this next week for two other regular Indy posters dln & marcy_. They may have some parade input.

They're shirking their Fodors' responsibilities and partying in Paris, France this week.

al

I believe that coolers are limited to 14" per person. No problem getting the cooler in, just remember that no glass is allowed.

In my opinion, don't worry too much about getting from the hotel to the track at this point. Wait until you get into town, get the lay of the land and maybe even give it a dry run before race day. I always "wing it", driving as close as I can get to the track, parking the car wherever I can (lots of parking available, often on people's lawns for $10-$15) and walking the rest of the way. That's part of the fun, dragging your 14" cooler, food, backpack and whatever else you have the last mile.

As for the parade, I've never seen it downtown, but if you find out the route and go up near where it ends you shouldn't have a problem getting a spot just like you would at any other parade.

One more thing -- if you get there early enough you can drive your car one lap around the track (at about 10 mph). I think it's called "Community Day" and I think it's on Thursday but don't quote me on that.

Have fun -- there's nothing like the Indy 500.

Shea

Thanks al. Community Day sounds like it may be interesting. Little tidbits like this really helps a person do a little planning.

al

One more thing -- in case you're interested there are rooms available at the Hilton, the one on W. Market Street, for $159 a night, including full breakfast. Check it out at the Hilton website.

indytravel

Hey al would you mind telling me where you found that rate?

I just checked www.hilton.com and it showed no availability for Saturday night May 28th for the downtown and north side Hiltons.

When I put in a 3 day stay of Fri, Sat & Sun the rate came back as $329 per night for the Hilton on Market St.

I'd love to know how you found that rate as I'm always looking for a better (read cheaper) way of booking rooms.

al

Here's what I did:

Go to www.hilton.com and enter the dates 26th thru 30th (that could be the difference).

Let me know if you find it.

indytravel

Thanks al. Wow that extra day makes all the difference in the world. Out of curiosity I checked the Hyatt and they want over $300 per night for the same 4 nights.


By the way shea, if you're comfortable with Priceline and are staying after the race you should give it a go. You might upgrade your hotel pretty inexpensively.

Last year I got the downtown Indy Marriott for $36 a night Sunday night after the 500. Then in August I got the Hyatt for $55 a night Sunday night after the Brickyard 400. Both of these were bid the week before the race.

al

I'm thrilled to have found $159 a night for 500 weekend. The one stickler is that it's charged in full to a credit card and is non-refundable, but that only means I can't back out at the last minute.

Shea has the Comfort Inn reserved, but if they want to (and can) change the Hilton seems like a good alternative, location-wise especially.