Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2025 Indy 500: Schedule, Tickets, and Must-See Fan Experiences

A RECORD CROWD RETURNS TO THE BRICKYARD Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is bracing for its largest audience in nearly a decade: every one of the track’s 232,000 permanent seats is spoken for and total race-day attendance is projected to exceed 350,000, the first grandstand sell-out since 2016. The sell-out lifts the traditional local TV blackout, letting central-Indiana fans watch live for only the eighth time in history. WHEN TO TUNE IN • Race day: Sunday, May 25, 2025 • TV window: 10 a.m. ET (pre-race) on FOX • Green flag: 12:45 p.m. ET • Live stream: FOX Sports app and authenticated providers The broadcast marks the first Indianapolis 500 under FOX’s new multi-year IndyCar deal, promising expanded shoulder programming and in-market promotional muscle. PENSKE PENALTIES SHAKE UP THE GRID Race-week inspections discovered illegal rear-crash-structure modifications on the cars of two-time defending winner Josef Newgarden and teammate Will Power. Both Team Penske entries have been fined and sent to the back of the 33-car field, an unprecedented setback for the series’ powerhouse organization. Owner Roger Penske fired three senior executives in the fallout, while IMS president Doug Boles noted the controversy “puts even more eyeballs on the Speedway this weekend.” STAR-STUDDED FIELD Pole-qualifying proved tighter than ever, with former winners Scott Dixon and Marcus Ericsson joined by series champion Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward and Kyle Kirkwood in fighting for the coveted front row. Rookie standouts Linus Lundqvist and Kyffin Simpson add fresh intrigue, while popular veterans Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan return chasing history. FAN EXPERIENCE & TRAFFIC TIPS • Gates open 6 a.m.; arrive before 8 a.m. to avoid lengthy lines. • Clear-bag policy is in effect; coolers up to 18"x14"x14" allowed with canned beverages only. • IndyGo bus shuttles run from Downtown and the Airport beginning 5:30 a.m.; rideshare drop-off is at Gate 2. • New for 2025: upgraded Wi-Fi in Pagoda Plaza, a 200-ft “Penske Tower” big screen in Turn 3 and an expanded KidZone behind Tower Terrace. WEATHER & TRACK CONDITIONS Early forecasts call for partly sunny skies, morning temps in the mid-60s rising to the low 80s by race start; light southerly winds could push in slightly higher track temps, influencing tire strategy during the critical final stint. TICKET RESALE & FUTURE RENEWALS Although the box office is closed, verified resale portals remain active. Expect single-seat grandstand listings to start around $275, with infield general admission trending near $125. Fans inside IMS this Sunday will again have the first right of renewal: the Speedway’s “500-hour” window to lock in 2026 seats opens the moment the checkered flag waves. WHY THIS YEAR MATTERS • First sell-out in nine years • Debut FOX broadcast, bringing NASCAR-style coverage muscle to IndyCar • Potential for a historic three-peat by Newgarden, now forced to charge from the rear Combine those storylines with perfect late-May weather and a 350,000-strong crowd and the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is poised to deliver one of the most watched — and talked-about — days in IMS history.