Pole day or Final Qualfying and drama at Indy.

Pole day for the 100th Indy 500.

The massive Sunday crowd

What a difference a day makes as they say.

Clear skies returned to the town of Speedway on Sunday and the warmth as well.  Today marked the day of the final sorting of the gird for next weekends race and the 100th Indy 500. Another day with another great crowd and again numbers not seen at the track on a day like this in recent years. A great attraction was the addition of many of the pace cars from over the years on display today and the history alone in these cars was amazing to see and ponder the development of the car over the years.

The morning provided another practice run for everyone and the only drama to come from that was the news that shortly after the season finshed the call was made to do an engine change on the Scott Dixon Car. There was an error in the data download on the engine that raises concern so the call was made to change it out. A rapid job by the team enabled this to happen and happen with time to spare. DIxon had been fifth fastest in the morning practice so was showing good speed once again in the warmer day. An overnight rebuild on the Max Chilton entry saw him back on track with good lap times and now locked into next weeks race.

The Ganassi team change out tub on Chiltons car

Qualfying started with the slowest to fastest plus the fast nine shoot out later in the day to come as well. Clear skies and a tempurture of 24c so a nice Sunday May afternoon.

The first drama came with the fifth car on track and the AJ Foyt entry of Alex Tagliani who spun on the start of his first of the four timed laps coming out of turn four and hitting the pit in wall. He was okay but the car was not and a bit of damage to the front of the tub is a concern and a likely tub change out will be required.

The damaged car of Tagliani

From there on in it was pretty routine as the field went about sorting out the running order for the race. 

As the afternoon went on pretty much most people slotted roughy where they had been the day before. Montoya having a few issues with a plastic rubbishy bag on tag but overall close to the day before. Then however came the top nine and the fast nine shoot out.

The air was pretty cold sun staring to go down and suddenly we had three. Newgarden taking the pole with a few runners to go and it was tension time. Oh yes tension was a rising.

Hunter Reay was fast but not quite enough, then cam Hinchcliffe was the last car out and make the  word was high drama USA v Canada a driver that was nearly lost to the sport one year ago in practice  on the Monday. Fastest yesterday and in the end fastest today. They sat out practice so to not  confuse 

themselves with the changing track conditions and they backed them selves for a good shot and they got it. A dream in many ways , perhaps a changing of the guard or history at the  500.

James Himchcliffe at Indy 2014

                 

Now attentions turn to Monday afternoons practice and the cars in race spec full tank runs, cars in packs and traffic and race set up and what will it bring. 30 of the 33 could easy win this thing it's. tight field and it will be a great race.  The crowds will be massive and hopefully the weather gods will be kind.

The feeling seems rain will hit Indy by Thursday but then again that's Thursday and Sunday is Sunday and race day as well it's going to be a classic and crowds like never before.  So in the end this is how the 10tth grid will look and is a classic line up fitting of this race.

1. (5) James Hinchcliffe, Honda, 02:36.0063 (230.760) 
2. (21) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 02:36.0470 (230.700)
3. (28) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Honda, 02:36.0821 (230.648)
4. (29) Townsend Bell, Honda, 02:36.1950 (230.481) 
5. (26) Carlos Munoz, Honda, 02:36.3264 (230.287) 
6. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 02:36.7471 (229.669) 
7. (7) Mikhail Aleshin, Honda, 02:36.8205 (229.562) 
8. (22) Simon Pagenaud, Chevrolet, 02:37.1096 (229.139) 
9. (3) Helio Castroneves, Chevrolet, 02:37.1265 (229.115) 
10. (77) Oriol Servia, Honda, 02:37.1638 (229.060) 
11. (98) Alexander Rossi, Honda, 02:37.5679 (228.473) 
12. (14) Takuma Sato, Honda, 02:37.8747 (228.029) 
13. (9) Scott Dixon, Chevrolet, 02:37.9007 (227.991) 
14. (27) Marco Andretti, Honda, 02:37.9161 (227.969) 
15. (6) JR Hildebrand, Chevrolet, 02:37.9809 (227.876) 
16. (42) Charlie Kimball, Chevrolet, 02:38.0180 (227.822) 
17. (2) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 02:38.1141 (227.684) 
18. (10) Tony Kanaan, Chevrolet, 02:38.2906 (227.430) 
19. (11) Sebastien Bourdais, Chevrolet, 02:38.2919 (227.428) 
20. (20) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 02:38.4325 (227.226) 
21. (19) Gabby Chaves, Honda, 02:38.4566 (227.192) 
22. (8) Max Chilton, Chevrolet, 02:38.8100 (226.686) 
23. (24) Sage Karam, Chevrolet, 02:38.9851 (226.436) 
24. (18) Conor Daly, Honda, 02:39.0721 (226.312) 
25. (63) Pippa Mann, Honda, 02:39.2877 (226.006) 
26. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 02:39.4002 (225.847) 
27. (61) Matt Brabham, Chevrolet, 02:39.4846 (225.727) 
28. (88) Bryan Clauson, Honda, 02:39.8111 (225.266) 
29. (16) Spencer Pigot, Honda, 02:40.1087 (224.847) 
30. (25) Stefan Wilson, Chevrolet, 02:40.2833 (224.602) 
31. (41) Jack Hawksworth, Honda, 02:40.2878 (224.596) 
32. (4) Buddy Lazier, Chevrolet, 02:42.0498 (222.154) 
33. (35) Alex Tagliani, Honda, No time (No speed) 

Images of Qualifying Day 1 at Indy 2016.

The ever building crowd.

                                                           Emma and Scott Dixon
                                                        
                               Winners names of 500 drivers of the past on all race tries.

The line for qualifying as the skie becomes dark.

NO mistaking it's the 10tth

Blair Julian kiwi Crew chef to Scott Dixon

Scott Dixon and his office.

The 100th Indy 500 - Qualifying Day 1

Saturday May 21st Qualifying Day 1 - The day people stared to play their hands.

After constant rain over night the day dawned with more rain in the air and a cool wind. The early summer days still fighting to come though and the hint of winter still in the air almost. The impressive sight to see was the large crowd at the track today and a sign of the numbers expected to attend in the coming days. In my 14 years of attending this event this was the largest numbers of people I have seen at the track for a Saturday qualifying day in all of that time.

The set up for qualifying in 2016 is slightly different over past years with the simple way of working it out today we create the fast nine and they become safe tomorrow within the nine but will shoot out the order at the end of the day. The balance of the field then is locked in even if there had been more that the 33 cars it would have bumped cars out today. Tomorrow they qualify again from slowest to fastest and then lock in there starting positions as well. In effect it has become a pre qualifying day and then for want of a better phase the real qualifying day happens tomorrow.

Practice was set for a 10am start that in the end was pushed back to just after 1230 local time as the track workers drying the track with air dryers and then with qualifying set for a 2:30pm start with each driver guaranteed a run today baring weather and then and only then a second run after that. Track time was even extended past the normal 6pm finish to 7pm. The dramas firstly came out of the morning practice session as 500 rookie and ex F1 driver and now Ganassi driver Max Chliton made heavycontact with the wall on the exit of turn 2 and a big rebuild for the team was ahead but he was okay and considering how well he had been going it was a rare error that caught him out in fact in the end it was to become a complet tub change that was required.

Under dark skies then and a building wind with a temperature of just 15c the field began to form for the four lap qualifying runs. Drama came pretty thick and fast as drivers set times and some big names were out side of the top nine including all of the Ganassi cars in fact it was the Honda powered cars that looked like the ones to watch. By 4pm everyone had completed a run and then at 5pm the teams lined up for second attempts close to the sort of feeling of Bump Days in the past however in this instance it was to bump in to the Fast Nine for the shoot out  tomorrow. The final last quarter of an hour was crazy as times tumbled and names changed as the early evening sun set and the conditions ideal for fast times. I'm the end there were surprises but the race can be won from anywhere that's for sure. A car not to take part was Pippa Mann who spun on her qualifying  run and did not set a time and of course Chilton as repair work carried on.

Results of  qualifyI got Saturday May 21st 2016 1.  (5) James Hinchcliffe, Honda, 02:35.8803 (230.946) 2.  (28) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Honda, 02:35.9755 (230.805) 3.  (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 02:36.0225 (230.736) 4.  (3) Helio Castroneves, Chevrolet, 02:36.1822 (230.500) 5.  (29) Townsend Bell, Honda, 02:36.2147 (230.452)  6.  (21) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 02:36.3658 (230.229) 7.  (7) Mikhail Aleshin, Honda, 02:36.3798 (230.209) 8.  (26) Carlos Munoz, Honda, 02:36.4042 (230.173) 9.  (22) Simon Pagenaud, Chevrolet, 02:36.4522 (230.102) 10.  (98) Alexander Rossi, Honda, 02:36.4893 (230.048) 11.  (27) Marco Andretti, Honda, 02:36.4966 (230.037) 12.  (2) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 02:36.6956 (229.745) 13.  (9) Scott Dixon, Chevrolet, 02:36.8651 (229.497) 14.  (20) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 02:36.9111 (229.429) 15.  (6) JR Hildebrand, Chevrolet, 02:37.1538 (229.075) 16.  (14) Takuma Sato, Honda, 02:37.8281 (228.096) 17.  (18) Conor Daly, Honda, 02:37.9902 (227.862) 18.  (24) Sage Karam, Chevrolet, 02:38.0191 (227.821) 19.  (10) Tony Kanaan, Chevrolet, 02:38.1171 (227.679) 20.  (11) Sebastien Bourdais, Chevrolet, 02:38.2819 (227.442) 21.  (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 02:38.2853 (227.437) 22.  (88) Bryan Clauson, Honda, 02:38.5136 (227.110) 23.  (16) Spencer Pigot, Honda, 02:38.5202 (227.100) 24.  (77) Oriol Servia, Honda, 02:38.6649 (226.893) 25.  (42) Charlie Kimball, Chevrolet, 02:38.9057 (226.549) 26.  (61) Matt Brabham, Chevrolet, 02:39.0178 (226.390) 27.  (25) Stefan Wilson, Chevrolet, 02:39.6031 (225.560) 28.  (41) Jack Hawksworth, Honda, 02:39.7248 (225.388) 29. (35) Alex Tagliani, Honda, 02:40.3515 (224.507) 30. (4) Buddy Lazier, Chevrolet, 02:40.4702 (224.341) 31. (8) Max Chilton, Chevrolet, no time (no speed) 32. (19) Gabby Chaves, Honda, no time (no speed) 33. (63) Pippa Mann, Honda, no time (no speed)

IndyCar Champs thoughts on eve of Qualifying for the 500

Race day draws closer.

Its about to go up a notch as the countdown to the 100th running of the Indy gets closer. After a week of practice on the famed oval with a day totally washed out with rain today saw the last pre qualifying practice runs to bring this phase of the pre race build up pretty much to an end. Saturday morning marks a final practice and then it's firmly game time.

Qualifying phase one starts Saturday local time and marks one of the two days in qualifying but a big day for everyone and a real chance to see what everyone has been working on this past week.

Today saw the Honda powered teams take 10 of the top 12 spots for the day but it was Chevy power Penske driver Will Power that was quickest today as dark skies hung around the speedway.

Current IndyCar series champ summed up his day with these words "We're fairly comfortable with where we are. The Target car feels decent, but the speed we're looking for maybe isn't really there right now. To be honest, out of the Chevys, (Will) Power is really the only one in his own league right now. I think out of the top 10 in no-tow speeds, there are only three Chevys. Hopefully things change before qualifying tomorrow but right now our race is for the top nine."

Catch all the events from the 100th Indy 500 here each day.

Dixon Tops Timesheets.

Kiwi Scott Dixon tops practice for Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

                                   

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On the first day of practice  at IMS  for the month of May the reigning  IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon came out on top in a late flurry of fast laps to close Thursdays afternoon practice for the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, setting notice that the track record may be in jeopardy this weekend.

Dixon, in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, clocked a lap of 1 minute, 9.8281 seconds (125.743 mph) around the 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. It edged the top lap set by defending pole and race winner Will Power in the morning session, 1:09.8943 (125.624 mph), in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

Power holds the track record, established last year in the Firestone Fast Six segment of qualifying, at 1:09.4886 (126.357 mph).

"We rolled off (in the morning) not too bad," said Dixon, the four-time series champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner. "We did the usual thing where we try a few different things and circle back to where we started. That's how the afternoon at least ended. I don't think you get a really good gist on speeds until tomorrow on most of the field.

"The car felt decent. ... We'll take what we learned today and hopefully tomorrow should be strong. It's definitely going to be very tight."

Simon Pagenaud, winner of the two most recent races this season and the championship leader by 48 points over Dixon, was third on the combined speed chart with a lap of 1:09.9894 (125.453 mph) this afternoon in the No. 22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet. Pagenaud's lap beat Graham Rahal by a scant 0.0002 of a second, with Rahal fourth on the combined chart at 1:09.9896 (also 125.453 mph) in the No. 15 Steak 'n Shake Honda.

Power and Pagenaud are the only two drivers to qualify in the top five in both previous Angie's List races. The Aussie isn't taking anything for granted in Verizon P1 Award qualifying Friday.

"Just based on the (practice) times, it's going to be seriously close, very close," Power said. "The top 10 is probably covered by a tenth or a tenth and a half (of a second) or something. It's very tight."

A third practice session is scheduled for 11-11:45 a.m. ET Friday  in the U.S. prior to knockout qualifying beginning at 3 p.m. ET that leads to the Firestone Fast Six. 

The 82-lap race, the fifth event on the 2016 race schedule, starts at 3:50 p.m. ET Saturday. 

The Angie's List Grand Prix weekend kicks off an epic month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil follows directly, with practice on the 2.5-mile oval May 16-20, qualifying May 21-22 and the historic race on May 29.




                                         
                               Media Quotes ex IMS Media and IndyCar Media.
          Photos of Scott Dixon at IMS and the city skyline in 2015 ex the David Turner collection.

Combined times from Practice 1 and 2 on the opening day of Thursday May 12th 2016.

Rank Car Driver Name    C/A/E/T        Session                      Time Speed      Total Lap

1 9 Dixon, Scott            D/C/C/F         Practice 2                01:09.8281 125.743 49

2 12 Power, Will            D/C/C/F         Practice 1                01:09.8943 125.624 52

3 22 Pagenaud, Simon   D/C/C/F        Practice 2                01:09.9894 125.453 55

4 15 Rahal, Graham       D/H/H/F         Practice 2              01:09.9896 125.453 70

5 11 Bourdais, Sebastien D/C/C/F          Practice 2             01:09.9944 125.444 54

6 7 Aleshin, Mikhail        D/H/H/F          Practice 2             01:10.0578 125.331 57

7 21 Newgarden, Josef   D/C/C/F          Practice 2             01:10.0741 125.302 56

8 5 Hinchcliffe, James     D/H/H/F         Practice 2             01:10.0815 125.288 25

9 2 Montoya, Juan Pablo D/C/C/F          Practice 2            01:10.1696 125.131 51

10 28 Hunter-Reay, Ryan D/H/H/F         Practice 2            01:10.1933 125.089 48

11 3 Castroneves, Helio   D/C/C/F          Practice 2           01:10.2480 124.991 50

12 16 Pigot, Spencer (R)  D/H/H/F         Practice 2           01:10.2541 124.981 60

13 83 Kimball, Charlie     D/C/C/F          Practice 2            01:10.2880 124.920 55

14 18 Daly, Conor (R)     D/H/H/F          Practice 2            01:10.2937 124.910 56

15 27 Andretti, Marco     D/H/H/F          Practice 2             01:10.2967 124.905 51

16 19 Chaves, Gabby      D/H/H/F          Practice 2             01:10.3062 124.888 66

17 6 Hildebrand, JR        D/C/C/F           Practice 2             01:10.3407 124.827 50

18 98 Rossi, Alexander (R) D/H/H/F       Practice 2              01:10.4615 124.613 63

19 35 Tagliani, Alex         D/H/H/F         Practice 2               01:10.5106 124.526 31

20 26 Munoz, Carlos        D/H/H/F         Practice 1               01:10.5295 124.493 33

21 8 Chilton, Max (R)      D/C/C/F          Practice 2               01:10.5975 124.373 43

22 14 Sato, Takuma        D/H/H/F         Practice 2                01:10.6312 124.313 50

23 41 Hawksworth, Jack D/H/H/F          Practice 1                01:10.6321 124.312 39

24 10 Kanaan, Tony        D/C/C/F          Practice 2                01:10.6387 124.300 45

25 61 Brabham, Matt (R) D/C/C/F         Practice 2                 01:10.9769 123.708 28

(R) Rookie

Total Laps for Combined Sessions: 1237

(C)hassis: D=Dallara | (A)erokit: C=Chevy, H=Honda | (E)ngine: C=Chevy, H=Honda | (T)ire: F=Firestone 

Driver Update.

Gabby Chaves named to drive Dale Coyne Racing No. 19 car for both May races

Gabby Chaves, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year for both the Indianapolis 500 and Verizon IndyCar Series in 2015, was named Wednesday by Dale Coyne Racing as driver of the No. 19 Boy Scouts of America Honda for the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis and 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

"We're very excited to have Gabby join us for the next two races," team owner Dale Coyne said. "We've been in communication for a long time and it's all finally come together. (Gabby) showed a lot of maturity last season, he was quick, mistake-free and made great decisions behind the wheel that you don't normally see coming from a rookie. We look forward to seeing what he can do in our No. 19 car."

Even though he hasn't raced since last August's season finale, Chaves does have experience at Indianapolis. He finished 15th in his road course debut and 16th in his first Indianapolis 500 racing for Bryan Herta Autosport last May. The Mazda Road to Indy graduate also won the Freedom 100 as part of his Indy Lights championship-winning season in 2014.

"What can I say, I'm really excited," Chaves said. "It's been the longest off-season of my life. Throughout my whole career I've always been on the grid in the first race of the season and this has been the first time that I haven't. 

"I've been speaking with Dale for years now and I'm excited to get something going with him and the team. I'm just really looking forward to it. With my time out of the car, I've really been able to value what it means to me to be in a race car. I can now get back on track and enjoy it even more."


                                                        Read more about the Indy 500 now

Dixon makes History.

IndyCar Series champ Scott Dixon marks major IMS milestone on the eve of the 100th. 

                             

Now just weeks away the countdown to the 100th running of the famed Indy 500 draws closer and closer.

On Wednesday, May 11, 2016  the reigning IndyCar Series champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner kiwi Scott Dixon helped make more history by placing the official "Indianapolis Motor Speedway" lettering above the all new Gate 1 sign at IMS. 

The moment marked the official opening of the new IMS Gate 1 Plaza. This has become a key piece of Project 100 at IMS.

"Having our Verizon IndyCar Series champion and an Indy 500 winner here at the Speedway to mark this significant occasion means so much to everyone here at IMS," Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. "The new Gate 1 Plaza will welcome fans from across the globe to our iconic facility, and provide a treasured year-round photo opportunity for visitors. 

This weekend, is the start of racing at the Speedway for the month of May as  the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis kicks off on the former F1 track and updated infield road course, it will be the first chance to be one of the first fans to walk through this historic entryway.

Project 100 represents a more than $90 million investment in the future of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Phase 3 of the project, now nearing completion, includes the new Gate 1 Plaza, an improved track fence, additional rows of seating along the front straightaway and the first stadium seats at IMS.

The new Gate 1 Plaza includes checkered flag-pattern tile as well as fan bricks, light posts accented with the famous Wing and Wheel logo and a recreation of the famous 1909 photo that has the layout of IMS inlaid in the entryway. It includes 19 entry gates, more than doubling the number previously available at Gate 1. It also significantly expands the entry space available to fans as they first enter the facility. 

The next Project 100 milestone will be the placement of the famous Wing and Wheel above the new Gate 1 during Race Week of the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. 

Looking towards the 500 the current entry list is looking some what like this but again changing by the day.

With Michael Shank Racing confirming that it will not enter a car for the 100th Indy 500, the field of hopefuls has narrowed. After MSR's efforts to put together a program for Chaves fell through, the Ohio-based team is focused solely on making its debut next month at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Chaves mean while is chasing the remaining seat at Dale Coyne Racing and the 2015 Rookie of the Year at the 500 is hopeful he will land that seat.

So looking at the ever changing puzzle and its sure to have a few more twists in it yet and even more so after this weeks Indy GP this is how the current field may look.

CONFIRMED ENTRIES
Chevrolet 
1 Juan Pablo Montoya, Penske
2 Will Power, Penske
3 Helio Castroneves, Penske
4 Simon Pagenaud, Penske
5 Scott Dixon, Ganassi
6 Tony Kanaan, Ganassi
7 Charlie Kimball, Ganassi
8 Max Chilton, Ganassi (Rookie)
9 Josef Newgarden, ECR
10 Ed Carpenter, ECR
11 JR Hildebrand, ECR
12 Sebastien Bourdais, KV
13 Matthew Brabham, KV (Rookie)
14 Stefan Wilson, KV (Rookie)
15 Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold
16 Buddy Lazier, Lazier Partners Racing 

Honda

17 Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti

18 Marco Andretti, Andretti

19 Carlos Munoz, Andretti

20 Townsend Bell, Andretti

21 Alexander Rossi, Andretti Herta (Rookie)

22 Graham Rahal, RLL

23 Spencer Pigot, RLL  (Rookie)

24 Takuma Sato, A. J. Foyt

25 Jack Hawksworth, A. J. Foyt

26 Alex Tagliani, A. J. Foyt

27 Conor Daly, Dale Coyne

28 Bryan Clauson, Dale Coyne

29 Pippa Mann, Dale Coyne

30 TBA, Dale Coyne (Luca Filippi is in the car at the moment, but will he remain in the seat after the Grand Prix of Indy? Gabby Chaves, James Davison, and a money-wielding Mario Dominguez share hopes of landing the entry so there are many chasing this ride.)

31 James Hinchcliffe, Schmidt Peterson

32 Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson

33 Oriol Servia, Schmidt Peterson-Marotti

Still unconfirmed

34 Grace Autosport (The team owner Beth Paretta is known to be working on a program behind the scenes, but has refrained from commenting on those plans and Katherine Legge is still the named driver)

Others well its getting less but there are still some car and engine deals there still and it will become a race against time but then again this is Indy and this is the 100th so one can expect another twist in the entry list yet.

                                         Quotes  and Photo of the Dixon opening of gate 1 ex IMS Media

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Selling Out for the 100th Indy 500.

Reserved seating sold out for historic 100th Indianapolis 500 This news in just today says more and more on why this years Indy 500 will be a great event. The following is the official press release from the Speedway with the latest announcements about this years event. The Key facts announced on Friday May 6th. A Major milestone has been reached as officials announce Indy 500 reserved seating is a sellout. IMS working hand-in-hand with community partners to mark 100th Running milestone and elevate the pursuit of progress. Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials celebrated an epic and historic milestone on Friday May 6th by announcing that all reserved seating is officially sold out for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. While general admission tickets are still available in the IMS infield, the massive grandstands around the 107-year-old 2.5-mile oval, and all hospitality suites, will be completely filled. The news was shared this afternoon by IMS leadership on the steps of the Indiana Statehouse, with community leaders including Indiana Governor Mike Pence and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett flanked by the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy. "Every Indianapolis 500 is special, but the buzz surrounding the 100th Running has been building for nearly a year, ever since the checkered flag fell on the 99th," said IMS President J. Douglas Boles. "Our fans are the best in sports and their incredible support of this year's race will make it a truly historic day for 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.'" Beyond the grandstands, the new Hulman Terrace Club is also sold out and every IMS suite is full. In fact, several large temporary suites will be erected due to remarkably increased demand. All VIP concert tickets are sold and it is expected that the Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light will reach capacity for the first time. Citizens throughout Indiana have embraced the 100th Running for months through community initiatives that have touched all 92 counties. From racing-themed "porch parties" to raising "500" flags to racing-themed artwork placed all around Indianapolis, the spirit of the Indy 500 has been a spectacle in itself. "I've been lucky enough to be a part of major sporting events across the globe," said Allison Melangton, Senior Vice President of Events for Hulman Motorsports. "But this race has a completely unique ability to inspire pride and passion in its fans. This year, our community has tapped into that passion in so many incredible ways, and it's simply inspiring to see all of these volunteer driven efforts working hand in hand with IMS and the 500 Festival to build valuable partnerships that enrich lives and push everyone forward."    Anticipation for the 100th Running has had a positive ripple effect throughout the city, with hotels and restaurants completely booked months earlier than usual due to increased anticipation for Race Weekend. "The Indy 500 is the kind of iconic event that other cities dream of having," said Leonard Hoops, president and CEO of Visit Indy. "And the 100th Running will be the greatest version of 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' But the impact of the race, and of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, go well beyond the massive economic benefits to the city and state in the month of May. Indy's brand is enhanced throughout the year because of the Indy 500 and IMS." With a crowd traveling to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 29 that has not been seen in recent years, longtime fans are encouraged to begin their Race Day routines at least two hours earlier than previous years. All fans will want to arrive early to take advantage of the full 100th Running experience.