Opening Day showcases Verizon IndyCar Series Superspeedway Aero Kits during Oval Test on Sunday at IMS
Opening Day showcases Verizon IndyCar Series Superspeedway Aero Kits during Oval Test on Sunday at IMS
INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, May 1, 2015 – Preparations for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will go into high gear with the highly anticipated debut of the Verizon IndyCar Series superspeedway aerodynamic bodywork packages during an Opening Day test on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval on Sunday, May 3.
Speeds on the oval are expected to be faster with the aero kits featuring modifications that will bring renewed innovation and differentiate Chevrolet- and Honda-badged Dallara race cars for fans.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves leads an impressive list of past winners slated to participate in the Sunday test including defending champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan. Reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power and two-time defending Indianapolis 500 pole-winner Ed Carpenter will also be on hand. Members of the 2015 Indianapolis 500 rookie class expected to participate include Stefano Coletti and Gabby Chaves.
General admission tickets are $15, with children 12 and under free. Public gates open at 9:30 a.m.
SCHEDULE (All times local):
Opening Day – Sunday, May 3, 2015
9:30 a.m. Public Gates Open
9:30-10:45 a.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Veterans Testing
10:45 a.m.- Noon Verizon IndyCar Series Rookies/Refresher Testing
11 a.m.-Noon Firestone “Wheel” Pin Distribution (Pagoda Plaza)
Noon-1 p.m. Break
12:05 p.m. Pit Lane Walk for fans begins – Enter at Panasonic Pagoda, Gasoline Alley, South Pit Gate
12:40 p.m.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Yard of Bricks
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, Doug Boles, Derrick Walker
12:45 p.m. Pit Lane Walk Concludes – Exit at Panasonic Pagoda, Gasoline Alley, South Pit Gate
12:47 p.m. Pace Car Dedication – Pit Lane Yard of Bricks
Doug Boles, Derrick Walker, Chevy Representative – Pace Car
1 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Practice Begins
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard to wave green flag
5 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Practice Concludes
Public Gates Close
TICKETS: $15, children 12 and under free
HONORARY STARTER:
1 p.m. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard
PROMOTIONS: Firestone “Wheel” Pin distribution begins at 11 a.m. (Pagoda Plaza).
PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 9:30 a.m. (local time). Pedestrian gates open are Gates 1B, 2, 4, 6.
STANDS OPEN: A Penthouse, B Penthouse, E Stand, E Penthouse, H Stand (AS NEEDED GA – Sec. 13-24, J Stand, North Vista Wheelchair (AS NEEDED GA – Sec 21), Northwest Vista (AS NEEDED GA – Sec 1-10), Northwest Vista Deck, Paddock Wheelchair (AS NEEDED GA – Box 19-22), Paddock Penthouse (AS NEEDED GA – Box 10-20), South Terrace, South Terrace Wheelchair, South Vista (AS NEEDED GA – Sec 1-5), South Vista Deck (AS NEEDED GA – Sec 1-4), Tower Terrace (AS NEEDED GA – Sec 37 & 79), Tower Terrace Wheelchair, Pit Road Terrace, Wheelchair Accessible, Corner 5, Corner 5 Wheelchair, Corner 7, Corner 7 Wheelchair, Backstretch Family Mounds, Turn 2 (Oval) Mounds, Turn 4 (Oval) Mound, Corner 6 Mounds, Corner 7 Mounds
MUSEUM HOURS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for fans 6-15 years old, with children under 5 free. Gate admission to the Indianapolis 500 is not included in Museum admission and must be purchased separately.
2015 Month of May Schedule
Saturday, May 2 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon
Rev: Methodist Health Foundation charity kick-off event at IMS
Sunday, May 3 Opening Day – Verizon IndyCar Series oval test (aero kits debut)
Thursday, May 7 Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis practice (free to the public)
Friday, May 8 Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis qualifications
Saturday, May 9 Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis Race Day
May 11-14 Indianapolis 500 practice
Friday, May 15 Indianapolis 500 practice – Fast Friday
Saturday, May 16 Indianapolis 500 qualifications
Sunday, May 17 Old National Armed Forces Pole Day
Monday, May 18 Indianapolis 500 practice
Wednesday, May 20 IMS Racing Experience & Fan Track Laps
Driver Community Day
Thursday, May 21 Indy Lights practice and qualifications
Friday, May 22 Coors Light Carb Day
Indianapolis 500 practice
Freedom 100 race
TAG Heuer Pit Stop Challenge
Coors Light Carb Day concert
Saturday, May 23 Legends Day Honoring Al Unser presented by Firestone
Florida Georgia Line concert presented by Firestone
Sunday, May 24 99th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Miller Lite
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2015 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for all racing events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2015 – the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, 99th Indianapolis 500, Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, Lilly Diabetes 250, Crown Royal Presents the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
Fans have three quick, convenient methods to buy tickets:
• Online: Visit www.ims.com/tickets. Tickets are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
• Phone: Call 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.
• In Person: Visit the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at 866-221-8775 for more information.
Information on parking and camping at IMS events is available at www.ims.com/tickets.