Finally, the Indy 500 is to happen on Sunday after the event was postponed earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic breaking the traditional starting date, interfering spectators, and fan attendance streak.

Despite the Indiana State surpassing the 3k confirmed deaths, the biggest single race sporting event in the world will kick-off on Sunday though spectators and fans won’t be in attendance as a way to safeguard their health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to John Hopkins University, as of Saturday, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States were 5.62 million. While 1.96 Million have recovered from coronavirus and deaths tolling to more than 175400.

Globally, confirmed cases of COVID-19 are at 22.96 Million, while recovered cases have been at 14.72 Million and deaths caused by COVID-19 tolling to more than 799600.

With all that come Sunday, we shall enjoy and celebrate with close family and friends as we watch the thrilling race on our digital devices.

The 104th Indianapolis 500 marks a new record in the history for the first time the Greatest Spectacle in Racing to be held without spectators and fans in attendance and held outside of the traditional date in May.

Indy 500 pole-sitter Marcus Andretti will be eyeing for the championship to break the family curse of 33 years without winning. He is the grandson to the legendary Mario Andretti, who holds the record of having won the Indy 500, NASCAR’S Daytona 500 and Formula 1 world championship. However, he won the Indy 500 once in 1969.

The same couldn’t be said of his father, Michael Andretti, who holds the most Indy 500 driver more winless in his 42 careers.

Marcus became the first member of his family in over 33 years to win the Fast Nine Shootout for the outstanding pole position to lead the field to green. He was driving Honda with the initials of number 98 under his father’s team, Andretti Autosport.

But at the Carb Day practice Indy 500 pole-sitter Marcus placed himself in the most uncomfortable circumstances possible in a way to prepare for the Indy 500. And it proved successful because it enabled his team to identify things that his car didn’t like and adjust them on time before the 200-lap race on Sunday. 

He was ranked 28th out of 33 drivers with the best lap of 221.314 mph, and Marcus recorded the second-slowest Honda while ending the practice last behind his six teammates.

Indy 500 pole-sitter Marcus Andretti is mentally in a good place, taking the mounting pressure a good type of pressure. He is in the good company of his 1969 Indy winner grandfather Mario Andretti and his father, Michael Andretti. 

The Indy 500 win will mean so much to Marcus moreover to the entire Andretti family, breaking the winless curse in the family for over 33 years since Mario won the Indy 500. Let’s stay safe as we enjoy the Indy 500 race. 

There is no doubt that Indianapolis 500 is one of the most spectacular and significant motorsport events in the world. It makes the car racing event one of the most anticipated shows in the United States.

Last year we witnessed the crowning of the 2019 Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenuad. He won with a slim margin of two-tenths of a second against Alexander Rossi.

Spectators, usually in large numbers, embrace the event and creates a warm environment for all, including the racing drivers, by cheering up on their favorites driving racers. For years that has been the tradition at the Indy 500, where families, friends, tourists, and locals come out to embrace the motorsport event.

The 2020 Indianapolis 500 will look a lot different from the previous Indy 500 because it is expected to kick-off on August 23 without fans.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has proven to be a headache for the professional sports leagues around the world, having some associations to end their 2020 season, others rescheduling their gameplay.

Many leagues have resumed gameplay while others have set up contingency plans to ensure the 2020 season goes on, and what they have in common is disallowing fans in the events to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The Indianapolis 500 has recreated a new way to introduce digital information to ensure the players’ safety at the track is impeccable while enhancing fans’ engagement into the 104th Indy 500 scheduled to kick-off on Sunday.  

Roger Penske, the Corporation chairman, insisted that both IndyCar and IMS are always evolving in terms of technology and innovation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has forced the motorsport to ban fans from attending the Racing Capital of the World.

Instead, they have been working closely with NTT to ensure that the fans are not left out by prioritizing them and embracing new technology innovations to keep up with the technology environment.

Penske also expressed disappointment of disallowing fans from across the world from attending this year Indy 500 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, sounded optimistic that 2021 God willing things will get back to normal and once again have the fans on-site at the Racing Capital of the World.

To make sure that the fans across the world don’t miss out on the thrilling racing motorsport, the Chairman emphasized that they have taken the initiation of investing in digital technology to engage the fans by enhancing the experience for them as they keep up with motorsport competition.

Undoubtedly, the 104th Indy 500 won’t be like what we are used to but can’t wait to experience the new innovative digital way to watch the race while at the comfort of my home. It is essential to be safe than sorry, with the COVID-19 in our midst, so let us protect ourselves. Remember to keep a distance, wear a mask, and sanitize your hands whenever you go out, in response to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

Last weekend Marco Andretti gave an electrifying performance during the qualifying session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His efforts paid-off by winning the Fast Nine Shootout for the outstanding pole position to lead the field to green. He was driving Honda with the initials of number 98 under his father’s team, Andretti Autosport.

The 5-time IndyCar Series champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon was unmatchable for the young Andretti.

The lack of fans surely didn’t hinder the racers from showing off what they do the best on the track, and viewers at home I bet they were watching the race at the edge of their seats.

The 2020 Indy 500 will kick-off on August 23, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic though necessary precautionary measures are in place to ensure all goes well.

Marco Andretti is the grandson of the legendary Mario Andretti, who holds the record of having won the Indy 500, NASCAR’S Daytona 500 and Formula 1 world championship.

Unfortunately, Mario wasn’t at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when Marco passed the finish line and secured a qualifying ticket. The 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario was ecstatic as he was watching the race at home and expressed the tremendous joy of his grandson winning insisting that was the happiest moment. After he saw Marco crossing the line that he even jumped, hitting the ceiling with his head.

The 33-year-old will be looking to follow his grandfather’s steps and fill in his shoes while keeping in mind that none of the Andretti family has won it for more than five decades. Especially now, we will have an Andretti member starting on the pole at the 104th Indy 500 since 1987.

The pressure mounts on Marco to break what seems like an Andretti family curse for failing to win. And he has taken the challenge calmly hoping to scoop the 2020 Indy 500 title and end the 51 years drought of his family winless streak.

On the better side, far from the winless streak of the Andretti family, they are unscratched, keeping in mind the motorsport is a hazardous sport, and they have been able to compete in the race without recording any injuries whatsoever.

Now Marco Andretti’s focus is to win the 2020 Indy 500, which is a considerable accomplishment to any driver. Still, for him, it is more than that, especially it will bring pride back to the Andretti family.

The 104th Indy 500 will take place on Sunday, August 23, at 1 p.m. ET and Marco Andretti will be the tough man to try to beat for the other drivers, especially now that his entire team himself included are ignited to go all the way and win.

Undoubtedly, the 2020 Indy 500 event will be one to remember amid the COVID-19 pandemic. I can’t wait to see who wins the trophy and how incredible it will feel if Marco Andretti becomes the 2020 Indy 500 winner.

Since 1999, several women have competed in the Indianapolis 500, a sport immensely dominated by men. And for the first time in 20 years, the 2020 Indy 500 won’t feature any women in the motorsport.

Fortunately, the motorsport events tend to consist of a few women racers amid the male-dominated race drivers. Namely;

• Janet Guthrie
• Danica Patrick
• Lyn St. James
• Sarah Fisher
• Simona de Silvestro
• Pippa Mann

Janet Guthrie was the first female motor racing driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 back in 1977, making way for other female racing drivers to follow in her suit. She is a veteran female racing driver who has inspired current and upcoming female racing drivers.

Janet Guthrie is a hall of Famer and inducted into the hall of fame namely;

• In 1980 at the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame
• In 2006 at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
• In 2019 at the Automobile Hall of Fame

In contrast, the hardships that female drivers experience in this era might not be exceptionally compared early on in 1977. Still, it is evident, especially if you carefully examine the number of female racing drivers that have graced the Indy 500. The main problem that they face being lack of sponsorships limiting their chances to participate in the races.

Sarah Marie Fisher remains the only racing female driver with the most careers start at the Indy 500 with nine and the first to win a pole position in a significant American open-wheel race. Before Danica Patrick’s victory at the Indy Japan 300 in 2008, she was the top racing woman in the IRL.

At the age of 45, Lyn St. James won the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year award, making her the first woman to win and the oldest driver ever to win the award. She also holds the speed record after becoming the first woman racing driver to surpass 200 mph on a race track.

Danica Patrick holds the spot for the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing. In 2005 Indy 500, she received the Rookie of the Year award. In 2008, Danica painted her name for the world to know at the Indy Japan 300 by becoming victorious and going into the record books as the only woman to win an IndyCar Series race.

In 2009, she made history and set a record at the Indy 500 race by finishing 3rd.

The 104th Indy 500 won’t feature any woman for the first time since 1999, especially after Mann failed to secure a ride to compete on. After her personal best finish time in 16th place last year, good readings were to happen in the 2020 Indy 500 for Pippa Mann.

Despite the 2020 Indianapolis 500 not featuring any women racing drivers, be sure to catch the action on August 23, 2020.

Remember to stay safe by keeping a distance, wear a mask, and sanitize your hands.