Free Hats For 3,000 Fans; IndyCar Series Game Launch With Drivers At Noon
By Eric Powell
indy500.com
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Adults and children of all ages will find many exciting and interesting activities Wednesday, May 21, at 500 Festival Community Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Fans will be treated to a driver autograph session, special activities and special access to the Speedway's historic Gasoline Alley garage area and pit lane, and admission is affordable for all.
Public gates are open at 9 a.m. (EST) for access to the IMS Hall of Fame Museum and attractions in the museum's east lot. At 11 a.m., the Garage Area and Pit Lane open to the public, and fans can take one lap around the world-famous 2.5-mile oval in their personal car. This is the only day of the year fans can lap the historic oval in their vehicle.
Admission for Community Day is only $5 per person, with children ages 5 and younger admitted for free. The facility will close at 6 p.m.
The Indy Racing League will distribute 3,000 free IRL hats to fans during the day.
In addition to the always-popular track lap, numerous Community Day attractions will keep fans busy at IMS all day:
- From 11 a.m.-6 p.m., vintage Indianapolis 500 cars, representing some of the most historic moments in "500" history, will be displayed along Pit Lane. The cars include: the 1970 Johnny Lightning Special, driven by Al Unser to his first Indy victory, and the first of his historic back-to-back wins in 1970-71; the 1946 Novi driven by Ralph Hepburn to a one-lap track record; the 1939-40 Boyle Maserati driven by Wilbur Shaw to consecutive Indy victories; the 1931 race-winning Bowes Seal Fast entry, driven by Louis Schneider.
- At noon, an all-star group of IRL IndyCarTM Series drivers will participate in the IndyCar Series video game launch behind the MCI Media Center. The drivers will compete against one another. IndyCar Series, the official video game of the Indy Racing League, delivers the entire IndyCar Series season, including "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indianapolis 500. The PlayStation 2 version ships to retailers nationwide May 20, with the Xbox and PC version soon to follow.
- Also at noon, the young children of IndyCar Series drivers will compete in the second annual "Mini-Indy 500" in pedal cars in the Pagoda Plaza.
- For slightly older aspiring race drivers, the Indy Racing League Fan Experience, including state-of-the-art racing simulators, will operate from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Pagoda Plaza.
- At 1:30 p.m., a local celebrity and media personality pit-stop competition will take place on Pit Lane in front of the MCI Media Center, just north of the start/finish line.
- From 2-3 p.m., three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser will sign his new book, "Winners are Driven: A Champion's Guide to Success in Business and Life," in the Pagoda Plaza Gift Shop.
- The Coca-Cola Stage will be alive with live music all day. The Elvis Tribute Band will perform from noon-1:30 p.m., and The Management will perform from 3-5 p.m.
- The grand finale for Community Day will be a driver autograph session, featuring past and present stars of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, from 3-6 p.m. in Gasoline Alley.
Tickets are available at the IMS gate or by calling the 500 Festival office at (800) 638-4296.
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