A buddy and I have talked about attending the Indy 500 for many years. We have decided if it is ever going to happen we need to just do it, we are going to go this year. Looking for advice on dealing with the crowds, getting to the track, where to sit, where to stay, and anything else you might have to offer. Thanks.

I imagine all nearby hotels are full by now

I have been to both Indy and NASCAR races at the Brickyard a few times. I like sitting to the west of the south chute entrance area between the pit exit and the space where the interior road course enters the big track. Sit high on the stands and you can see all the action coming down the front straightaway, turn 1 passing, turn 2 and halfway down the back straightaway. With proper passes, you can enter the center of the track via the chute tunnel.

About three blocks south of the track on Polco St. is 14th avenue. This is an industrial area an GM had a transmission plant there. We find paved parking in this area at a good price ($20 to $40 bucks). Getting out from here after a race is easy - and we get to the highway pretty easy.

I've been to the race for 12 consecutive years and spend a large part of the month of May at the track. This late in the game, seating options through the box office may be limited. It's worth calling the track office to see what they have, but the Indy 500 ticket exchange should have a lot to chose from on the secondary market.

The best seats in the place are penthouse on the front straight or turn one, but they go to very senior annual ticket holders and sell for pretty big money on the secondary market. I've moved around a bit over the years, but I've settled in to mid way up in the Southwest Vista, section J, just past turn one. From there, I can see cars coming out of the pits, through turn 1 and 2, and just into the back stretch. Not the greatest seats in the place, but the best I've been able to find with my seniority level. I tried turn 4 in 2016 and didn't care for it.

I come in from the north, and typically park in an open (free) lot in a business plaza at the intersection of Georgetown and Lafayette. It's a decent walk to the track, but the closer you get, the more gridlock you experience, coming and going. Don't expect to find a hotel room at a reasonable price anywhere near the track at this point.

When you get there, make sure you're early enough to walk to the Pagoda in the infield to check out the midway and souvenir areas, and while it'll be crowded on race day, the museum is always worth seeing.

Leave your Poncho at home, it won'r rain.

Be aware there are a few rough area's close to the track, and stay out of the strip clubs...

Ive only been once ( YEARS ago )
IMO get a seat in the outer seats, infield seats were not good.And like said, you want upper row seating if you can get it near the end of turn 1 or turn 3 .

There are some craft breweries in the area that make some amazing beers. Exploring them is a part of PRi for me. Bartender in the hotel we stay at knows his stuff.

I won some tickets for the 1996 race, had driver's meeting passes too but couldn't get a flight early enough to attend it. I won the tickets on a Thursday, e-mailed a bunch of guys to see who could go. A friend from west of Chicago could go, got Saturday evening flight. He picked me up at O'Hare at 9PM, drove back to his house. We got about four hours of sleep, got up and drove to Indy. We parked a couple of blocks south of the track in some guys yard for $20, he gave us some souvenirs worth that. We got through the gate as Jim Neighbors was singing, we got to our pit side seats (terrible) just as they threw the green flag. They had a crash on the last turn, everyone stood up, couldn't see anything for a while. Finally a wheel/tire rolled past without a car. Never knew who's tire that was.

Based on all of that, I'd look for an outside seats at a turn so you can see down one long stretch and one short shoot, high as possible.

After the race, we went back to my friend's truck, went south several blocks and got on the highway back to Chicago. Got there late, a couple more hours of sleep and they hauled me back to O'Hare to fly back to DFW.

Pack your stunt liver!

Seriously, it depends on what kind of experience you're after. The race, or the party? I attended 18 years.

The Speedway is massive. The cars go by in a blur.

If you're into the party, you'll want to be in the infield.

The IMS Museum is very informative and educational. It is located in the infield as well.

If you're into the race, there are a number of vantage points depending on how you want to view the race. As others have said, up high in the outside of the turns is a great vantage point to see the cars coming into the and exiting the turns. If you're into watching what's going on in the pits, a section called Pit Terrace (infield side of pit row) offers some good views. I once watched a frustrated AJ Foyt bring his car into pit for early race adjustments, only to pit again - exit the race car, yank the wrench out of the mechanic's hand, and begin to wrench on the car himself as the crowd roared in approval. Of all the years I went, Turn 1 or 4 offered the best views.

The townspeople of Speedway, IN are very hospitable and make the best of it. Many will provide parking on their lawns, and some even sell breakfast.

Check the Speedway rules in advance with what you can and can not bring into the speedway.