Why is the indy 500 push back an hour?

Question

from 12pm to 1pm and should it be become back to 12pm

Answer 1

Because Danica has a photo shoot before the race.

Actually, it helps to force people to spend the night in Indy, rather than drive home drunk after the race.

Answer 2

So the drivers can't race at Indy, then fly to Charlotte and race.

Answer 3

living out here in Calif, I remember when the dang pre race show came on at 7am, man thats early, and my Party Animal Saturday night yrs are way behind me...I do like to sleep in, having to set a alarm clock to get up for a race..yeah I did it somehow the coffee got me awake for the green flag around 9am..

Go Helio

Answer 4

TV!  11 AM EST or CSDST, before Indiana joined the time change party, was  9 AM on the West Coast .  Most of those folks hadn't gotten home from Sat night yet.  Now they may tune in to see what's happening before the end of the race.

Answer 5

A couple of true reasons:

1.  The original starting time was 11am.  However, network broadcasting (ie, ABC Sports, ESPN, and Disney) asked for the race to begin at noon to accomodate more of a television audience.  This was done.

So ... now the race is at noon

2.  In 2006, Indiana FINALLY adopted Daylight Savings Time, meaning the majority of the state (save for the counties in extreme NW and SW Indiana) are now on Eastern time (ie, New York City) all the time.  With this move, the time could be moved even more into the afternoon, yet still have the same amount of daylight as it used to be when the race was held at noon.  Hence, the start time was moved - again - to 1pm.  This move was also applauded by the television network companies.

Now ... the good news is that there is a better chance to watch or listen into the race (for those that do not go).  The bad news - by sheer logistics, it is now completely impossible for a driver to do "The Double" - both the Indy 500 and the Coke 600.  Not that there are drivers that would be willing to do to the Double again (outside of maybe Robby Gordon).

So ... that's your answer as to why the Indy 500 has a later starting time.  Granted, it is a little weird, but the 500's never been one to hold a start date/time tradition.  The race used to be held on May 30th (regardless of where that day fell during the week - Tues., Wed., etc.), so it's something fans acclimate to fairly easy.

Enjoy the race!