Exciting Theme Unveiled For 2005 Indianapolis 500, 500 Festival

'Accelerate Your Senses' Next May In Indy

By Paul Kelly
indy500.com
Tuesday, October 19, 2004

The exciting sights and sounds of the pageantry and power of the 89th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race are captured in the theme for the month-long race celebration in May 2005, "Accelerate Your Senses."

The "Accelerate Your Senses" theme, announced Oct. 19 by Indianapolis Motor Speedway and 500 Festival officials at IMS, will be prominent in local and national Indianapolis 500 advertising and promotional materials and 500 Festival event materials. The theme also will be an important part of the many events that take place in Indianapolis during the month of May, leading up to the 2005 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29.

Those events include the traditional start to month of May activities, the 29th OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on Saturday, May 7 and also include Community Day on Wednesday, May 25 at IMS and the Flagstar Bank 500 Festival Parade on Saturday, May 28. Track activity opens Sunday, May 8, with the 89th Indianapolis 500 scheduled to start at noon (local time) Sunday, May 29.

"There is no other sensory experience in the world like the Indianapolis 500, so we believe 'Accelerate Your Senses' truly captures the feel of the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing,'" said Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway senior vice president, business affairs. "The 500 and all of its surrounding activities are an experience that no one forgets, something that stirs the passions of race fans worldwide. I'm eagerly looking forward to next May."

Speedway and 500 Festival officials created the theme based on the unique sensory experience of the Indianapolis 500 and all of its related activities during the month of May. No other event or time of year in the Indianapolis area boasts the same combination of color, sound, speed and spectacle, whether on the historic 2.5-mile oval at IMS or on the vibrant streets of downtown Indianapolis.

"The 500 Festival and Indianapolis Motor Speedway's joint theme promotes the Indianapolis 500 and the 500 Festival in a fun, festive and dramatic fashion," said Scott Blumenthal, chairman, 500 Festival Board of Directors. "'Accelerate Your Senses' translates into the 'experiences' the month of May brings to nearly 1 million people who participate in or attend activities spanning from the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing - the Indianapolis 500."

Said Kirk Hendrix, 500 Festival president and CEO: "Who doesn't get goose bumps watching a sea of 30,000 people taking the start of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon or saluting the Indy 500 drivers as they make their way down the parade route? The month of May is sensory overload with everything from the Mini-Marathon to the Flagstar Bank 500 Festival Parade, culminating with the Greatest Spectacle in Racing - the Indianapolis 500. It's sights, sounds, smells and emotion."

Special artwork to be used with the "Accelerate Your Senses" theme was unveiled during the announcement, including art on an Indy Racing League IndyCar® Series car. Nearly 100 runners ran through the Plaza Pavilion, where the announcement took place, to create a unique sensory experience for guests.

A number of VIP guests also attended, including 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice, 2004 IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan and 2004 Futaba Freedom 100 winner and Menards Infiniti Pro Series™ champion Thiago Medeiros. ***

2005 tickets: To purchase tickets, camping or parking for the 89th Indianapolis 500, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

To purchase tickets or register to participate in any 500 Festival event, call the 500 Festival hotline at (317) 614-6400 or log on to www.500festival.com.


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