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2020 Indy 500 Moved to August Due to Coronavirus Concerns

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Indianapolis Motor Speedway aerial view
An aerial view of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Photo: Kim via CC

If you’re planning on attending the Indy 500 this year, it looks like you’ll have to wait a bit longer to experience the race. IndyCar just announced that it will postpone the Indy 500 to Aug. 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This announcement doesn’t come as a total surprise, considering how many auto shows and other developments in the motorsport world have been delayed due to health concerns. Yet it’s definitely some big news that Indy 500 ticket holders will need to adjust to.


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The context of the decision

Though the Indy 500 has been going on for over a century, this year’s postponement is definitely unparalleled. The only other time that the Indy 500 hasn’t occurred on its traditional Memorial Day weekend date was during the World Wars. According to the Indy Star, the race was canceled from 1917-1918 and 1942-1945.

Mark Miles, chief executive of the company that runs IndyCar and the IMS, expressed how the decision is based on prioritizing the public’s health above the event itself. When the event does happen this summer, fans can expect stricter sanitization measures to help keep everyone safe. According to Reuters, the Indy500 will have hand-sanitizing stations, limited hand-to-hand interactions between staff and customers, and more frequent cleaning of public areas.


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More details about the new event date

Event organizers have also tweaked the dates for preliminary events leading up to racing day.

  • Aug. 15-16: First qualifying events
  • Aug. 20: Practice sessions, Indy Lights practice and qualifying
  • Aug. 21: Indy Lights Freedom 100 race, final Indy 500 practice
  • Aug. 22: Public driver’s meeting and autograph session

Roger Penske voiced how postponing the race was the responsible choice to make, in light of COVID-19’s widespread impact. He believes that the event will have a successful turnout when it takes place in August. “I’m confident we will welcome fans with a transformed facility and a global spectacle when we run the world’s greatest race.”