Do I need to purchase Indy 500 infield tickets in advance?

Question

Do you just show up and pay at the gate the day of the race? How much is it? Do you need regular race tickets to get in? Sooo many questions! Thanks in advance for your help!

Answer 1

Usually, there are ticket sale booths at some of the main gates into the track that will sell General Admission tickets ($20 ea.) on the morning of the race.  The ticket booths are clearly marked, so you should be able to find them with minimal complications.  This is all you need to get into the infield of IMS for the race - you do *not* need a "grandstand" ticket to get into the infield.

If you are going to do the General Admission tickets, you are probably best to get to the track as early as possible (gates open @ 5am Eastern) so that you can reserve a spot on one of the viewing mounds in Turns 2, 3, or 4 (there are no viewing mounds in Turn 1 due to the MotoGP alterations).

Recommendation #1 ... if I remember correctly, there is a ticket sales booth at Turn 2, which I would recommend going to first.  I'm sure there are ticket sales at Turns 1 and 4, but they are larger fan gates, so your wait time there may be longer.

Recommendation #2 ... if you do think about grandstand tickets, look like a "poorman".  Example ... if you know what your upper limit would be for purchasing a single ticket, then put that amount of $ in your wallet, and store the rest of your cash in your shoe (or something else well-hidden).  Then, go to a scalper, ask for prices, open your wallet, and show you only have your amount, and didn't know how expensive tickets were.  And don't balk at that.  Once the race gets close, or is about to start, scalpers get more desperate, so they lower their asking prices - to perhaps under face value.  That's when you strike gold.  Think of it this way - when the race starts, how much are those tickets to the scalper?  Nothing.  Therefore, off-loading a few for a few dollars more take-in is better than being stuck with pieces of paper for a past event.  I did this for the last 3 F1 races at IMS, and made out like a bandit.

Recommendation #3:  Professional scalpers (those you know have no knowledge of racing whatsoever, and are after the all-mighty dollar) are plentiful, but you may be better off going after grandstand tickets from someone wanting to off-load only 1 or 2.  They're the fans that bought too many, and just either want their sell at a price they purchased, or just to get some of their money back.  They'll be easy to identify - they don't have a stack of tickets in their hands - they usu. have 1-2 fanned out.  Sometimes, if they know they're selling to someone that wants to attend the race vs. reselling the tickets, they may off-load them to you at a discount - because they may be sitting right next to you.  Keep your eyes peeled.

Just a few thoughts ... enjoy the race ... should be sunny & 78, so bring sunscreen.

Answer 2

You can buy your ticket at the office but i recommend getting there befor 4 am to get in line for the infield

Answer 3

u do need to purchase a ticket to get into the motor speedway,u can probably purchase it the day of the race from the front office,on 16 th and Georgetown.i think they start at 20 dollars for general admission.that will get u in the infield,,,,OK