Indy 500 News

2020 will mark the 104th Indianapolis 500, and it’s an IndyCar Series event that is now confirmed to take place on Sunday, May 24, 2020.

The race usually takes about 200 laps that translate to 500 miles that feature 33 drivers.

Last year, Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske won the race, and he is the first confirmed driver at the race since he will be defending his championship.

Also, we have seen the return of Fernando Alonso, a two-time Formula 1 winner who has a great desire to reach the bars set by Graham Hill after he won the Triple Crown.

Alonso has already won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Monaco Grand Prix, and the only race remaining for him to have the Triple Crown is the Indy 500 title win. There are speculations that he is very close to signing with Michael Andretti’s team.

We know it’s too early to be talking about the entry list of drivers at the 2020 Indy 500. However, we have come up with a list of confirmed and speculated drivers.

Here, we will arrange the drivers, depending on the team in which they are in. Note that this is not the final entry list, and for confirmation, you may have to wait until May 2020.

List of confirmed and speculated Indy 500 drivers

Andretti Autosport

• Zach Veach, #26 Honda
• Alexander Rossi, #27 Honda
• Ryan Hunter-Reay, #28 Honda
• Colton Herta, #88 Honda (Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport)
• Marco Andretti, #98 Honda (Andretti Herta Autosport)
• Fernando Alonso (speculated) – He will be looking to join Andretti’s team, and both parties have shown interest. It’s just a matter of time until a deal is put into paper between Alonso and Andretti’s team.

Arrow McLaren SP

• Oliver Askew, #TBD Chevrolet
• Patricio O’Ward, #TBD Chevrolet

Chip Ganassi Racing

• Marcus Ericsson, #8 Honda
• Scott Dixon, #9 Honda
• Felix Rosenqvist, #10 Honda

Ed Carpenter Racing

• Rinus VeeKay, #21 Chevrolet

Meyer Shank Racing

• Jack Harvey, #60 Honda

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

• Graham Rahal, #15 Honda
• Takuma Sato, #30 Honda

Team Penske

• Josef Newgarden, #1 Chevrolet
• Will Power, #12 Chevrolet
• Simon Pagenaud, #22 Chevrolet

Full-time drivers (speculated)

A.J. Foyt Enterprises

• Charlie Kimball, #4 Chevrolet

Dale Coyne Racing

• James Hinchcliffe/Sergio Sette Camara/Alex Palou, #18 Honda
• Santino Ferrucci, #19 Honda

Remaining full-time seats (confirmed)

• Carlin (two seats)
• Dale Coyne Racing (two seats, see above)

Remaining full-time seats (speculated)

• Possible second A.J. Foyt Enterprises entry

Indy 500 one-offs (confirmed)

• Arrow McLaren Racing SP Chevrolet (third entry)
• James Davison in a Jonathan Byrd’s Racing/Hayward Motorsports entry

Indy 500 one-offs (speculated)

• Helio Castroneves in a fourth Team Penske Chevrolet
• Third Dale Coyne Racing Honda
• Sixth Andretti Autosport Honda

Other (confirmed)

• Ed Carpenter is the oval driver for Ed Carpenter Racing and is set to drive in the Indy 500.
• Conor Daly is the road and street course driver for Ed Carpenter Racing but is set to drive a third entry for the team in the Indy 500.

Other (speculated)

• DragonSpeed and Ben Hanley are slated to return to IndyCar in 2020, but it’s just speculation that is yet to be confirmed.
• Tony Kanaan is one of the likely drivers expected to compete at the Indy 500 if A.J. Foyt Enterprises’ second part-time entry ends up being a part-time entry. 

Conclusion

It’s yet unclear about Indy 500 drivers on this year 2020 entry list. We will have to wait for about four months or so until we can have the confirmed drivers of the greatest spectacle in racing.

For you, as a fan, you can prepare yourself by getting your tickets and parking passes early as they sell out fast. If you’re in for a crazy weekend, then you can try camping at the Coke Lot.

If you want to experience the madness of Indy 500, then camping at Coke Lot must be in your bucket list. It’s one crazy of a ride to do so, and there is nothing ordinary about it.

The Coke Lot is located outside the IMS track, and it’s officially designated as Lot 1C. The camping site got its nickname “Coke Lot’ because of the presence of a Coca-Cola bottling plant that is situated just adjacent to the establishment.

What is the Indy 500 Coke Lot known for?

Coke Lot is an open field located to the northwest of the Indy 500 race track, and people frequent there because of intense revelry as well as all-night partying.

The party starts a few days before the race and goes on until the entire race weekend ends.

Here is where you’re going to find campers, tent campers, and RVs, and we bet with the atmosphere that has been here for the past years, you’ll be obliged to partly like hell.

While at the Coke Lot, you can expect to be surrounded by zombie-like friends who could be marinating the booze, gorging on nachos, or sometimes having to sing out their favorite songs or the desire to mate.

5 rules to survive at the Indy 500 Coke Lot

You need to have some precautions and rules if you want to survive at the Indy 500 Coke Lot. Check them out…

1.Beware of the hooligans

There is always drama at the Coke Lot. That’s why we recommend you stay away from a group that seems too violent or provocative. Don’t associate yourself with people that keep throwing insults at passersby since a brawl is inevitable, and in such a scenario you could learn through the hard way.

2. Don’t buy drugs

Avoid junkies or peddlers trying to sell you drugs as the darkness falls. You need to be at your best-focused mind ever if you want to survive at the Coke Lot.

3. Stay alert and courteous

You can join the crowd as they party or drink, but be on the lookout for your safety. Stay vigilant and always be polite, or you may end up being thrown out of the mix in a nice or not nice way.

4. Make friends with public servants

The first people to make as your friends should include paramedics, firefighters, and the omnipresent police. Play smart and give them some snacks so that when you find yourself in trouble, they can quickly identify and help you out.

5. Carry your own must-haves items

Some of the must-haves include sunscreen, lots of tissue paper, foods and beverages, adequate water, and enough cash. Just be yourself and enjoy the weekend without going higher than the bars you had set for you and your family.

Conclusion

Indy 500 Coke Lot is the most notorious camping site for high-end RV owners and family.

Get your tickets ready and make sure to book your spot early at the Coke Lot as space sells out so fast. Avoid drunkenness since sex is unavoidable at the Lot 1C.

Glamping provides the same experience of camping, but with the added benefits of amenities that are found in many luxury hotels. In other words, glamping can be described as glamorous camping.

Indy 500 glamping

Just picture a tent on the infield of a race track with inviting couches, rustic-looking tables, the most comfortable bed, air conditioning, art hanging on the walls, and a fridge.

Yes, that’s what we mean by Indy 500 glamping, and over the years, it has become a very popular trend at race tracks.

If you’re yet to try out glamping, then Indy 500 in 2020 should be your chance to experience something new during your extended stay at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Here, we will look at the different glamping packages that you can find at the Indy 500. Read on, and choose the ideal glamping site for you and your family.

Glamping at IMS

Glamping at IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) provides fans with the ultimate experience of living in a tent, but with the amenities of a hotel.

Here, you’re allowed to stay for a maximum of 5 days, and you can carry along your family members to treat yourselves to an outdoor experience, unlike any other.

You could play family games or do some storytelling under the tents, and it may actually boost a strong bond between you and your family or friends.

Indy 500 glamping is the best escape route for someone looking to have fun and leave all the stress behind from tight work schedules, headaches, and family problems or feuds.

With that said, glamping at the IMS offers two different packages, and they include Tiny Houses and Glamptown/Lakeside Glamping.

Tiny Houses

Are you a race attendee looking to try out a new style of accommodation?

If that’s you, then tiny houses provide you with a unique opportunity to take advantage of exploring a new, innovative, and boutique style of on-site race track accommodation.

What more could you ask for?

It’s more like you’re at your home where you can do as you wish and still experience the Race Day at the Indy 500.

Each tiny house comes with some amenities that include air conditioning, a modern bathroom, sleeping quarters, a compact kitchen, and more.

Tiny house package goes for a price of $4000.

Glamptown/Lakeside Glamping

The other package is the glamptown/lakeside glamping where you have the chance to go for cheaper rates as compared to the tiny houses.

• Queen bed package – $1600
• 4-cot package – $1500
• Twin bed package – $1300

Where to buy the packages?

As it’s the case, most of these packages are always sold out before and after the race. That’s why you can submit your information on the official website to have your name and details added to the waiting list at IMS.

Conclusion

Why book a hotel room when you can get hold of Indy 500 glamping package and enhance your experience at the Race Day.

The first payout in 1911 was about $27,550, and since the race has become more popular than ever, these days, the total payout stands at more than $13.

Indianapolis 500 winners used to receive 50% of the total purse, but recently winners only take about 20% of the purse. Despite the differences in percentages, it’s quite a large amount as the total purse has gradually increased over the years.

Last year, 2019, the total payout was $13.09 million, and the winner, Simon Pagenaud, took home the prize money close to $2.67 million. The last place driver took home about $200k.

Indy 500 payout 2020

We will know the exact and official payout totals for the 2020 Indy 500 after the race. However, with the recent payouts, we can come up with an approximated figure for the race.

The last five years have seen the total purse decrease where we saw Simon Pagenaud take home roughly $2.67 million from the $13.09 million of the purse in 2019. The previous year in 2018, Will power earned about $2.52 million from $13/07 million purse

So, we expect the amount to differ slightly and close to the $13 million payouts.

The highest Indy 500 Payout history

In 2008, the total payout peaked to more than $14.4 million, and it became the highest ever payout in Indy 500 history.

In 2009, Helio Castroneves, a third-time winner, took home the largest amount paid to a winner amounting to about $3.04 million. He actually holds the record for earnings by an individual driver at more than $12. 65 million.

List of last 10 years winners and Prize money:

Here is the list of Indy 500 winner’s names and Payout of Prize Money for the Last 10 Years. Stay with the following…

What determines the amount?

The total purse amount still remains undisclosed, but the prize money comes from sponsors, organizers, the IndyCar Series, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

That’s why you can find a driver despite the position he finished on earning more than another driver high on the ranking card. For instance, in 2008, Carlos Munoz finished 7th and earned about $254,000 while other drivers who finished 8th, 9th, and 10th took more money over $400k.

Lastly, what determines what each driver gets is the fastest laps, the number of laps led, and so on.

Conclusion

Simon Pagenaud will be defending his champion and will be looking to get his hands on another title win. But it’s an achievement that’s not easy to achieve. 

The only drivers to win back-to-back races are five, and they include Helio Castroneves (2001-02), Al Unser (1970-71), Bill Vukovich (1953-54), Mauri Rose (1947-48), and Wilbur Shaw (1939-40).

Who do you think will be the winner of next year, 2020 Indy 500?

There is no such thing as a bad seat at the Indy 500, but you need to choose one that provides the ultimate view to watch the race. And that’s why no matter where you’re seated, you can always have a great time.

For sure, we can say that some seats are better positioned than others, and to get them; you’ll need to cough up some more dollars than the usual rate.

However, we think some of these seats give good value to your money since you can enjoy the racing with all your viewing wishes at heart.

Here, we will look at some of the general tips for Indy 500 seating chart of choosing Indianapolis 500 seats, and the type of seats to expect.

10 Tips for choosing Indy 500 seats

1. Choose a set with a backrest– This ensures you remain comfortable at all times as the racing goes on. You can even rent seat cushions.
2. Go for a set with a good view of the TV monitor – It’s an excellent idea for the few that want to follow a race by seeing the scoring tower.
3. Go for sits in the corners– You can expect to have the widest views for all the racing actions taking place. Sitting at a corner ensures that you see down the whole straightaway as the cars go by.
4. Sit at the highest place as possible to see all the action – Sitting high is another great option if you want to have the widest views of the racing event.
5. Sit low-Sitting very near the racing track makes the event more exciting as cars go by, and fans cheer their racers.
6. Sit under a roof – This is to protect yourself from hot sun rays as well as rain. You can go for penthouses seats that have roofs.
7. Seating Suites with added benefits – You can also choose suites that come with benefits such as elevator access, garage and pit passes, food and beverages, and air condition.
8. Sit on the deck – They provide an unobstructed view but be sure to note that they don’t have any protection from elements such as sun or rain.
9. Stay away from the sun –To avoid the sun shining on your face, which can hinder how you see the track well, its recommended to sit while facing east or north.
10. Park near your seats – It’s for those who want to walk out fast after the race.

The types of seats to expect at the Indy 500

• Paddock section
• Paddock penthouse seats.
• Paddock grandstand.
• A, B & E stands
• Penthouse (A, B, C, D, E)
• Southeast vista seats
• Northwest vista seats.
• Pit road terrace seats.

Conclusion

Gets your tickets early by purchasing them on the official Indianapolis 500 websites or the other valid means and go for a seat that is more to your liking. Select your best seats from the Indy 500 seating chart. The seats differ in prices, and at most times, the penthouse ones are more expensive than the others but are worthy with a great view of the track.