Roger Penske said Friday his staff still has more renovations to make at IMS. Plus, he discussed the future of the Freedom 100 and how IMS landed on 135,000 fans for Indy 500.
Majority-Women Team To Make History At This Year s Indianapolis 500, Part Of Broader Effort
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Article origination IPBS-RJC
Paretta Autosport crew members work on the no. 16 car during a practice session ahead of this year s Indianapolis 500.
Samantha Horton/IPB News
Teams are preparing for this weekend’s Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Simona De Silvestro drives for Paretta Autosport and will be the only woman driver in the field of 33 cars. But that’s not the only unique aspect of Paretta. The team is made up of mostly women, about 70 percent.
For the first time, a majority-women’s team is competing in the Indy 500 this weekend. The team is a part of a broader effort to bring more diversity to motor sports. Only nine women and only two Black drivers have ever competed in the so-called “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
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Numerous social media posts and photos from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway over the weekend show many a maskless scofflaw and people crowded closely together, driving concern over what the race stands might look like this Sunday.
Clumps of people sit clustered together, a disquieting look for those concerned about the potential impact of one of the largest gatherings since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
When asked by IndyStar, IMS officials acknowledged that masking behavior was less than ideal at recent events
and said they plan to have hundreds of mask ambassadors to try to enforce the rules on race day.
Indy 500 fans are ignoring mask rules How IMS will enforce the rules indystar.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from indystar.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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The Greatest Spectacle in Racing is finally back. It s been two whole years so in case you need a refresher, here s everything you need to know to enjoy your Speedway experience.
Indy 500 has a limited capacity
If it feels quieter at the track, remember you re walking around with thousands of fewer fans than usual. The 40% capacity this year, determined by Penske Entertainment Corp. and Marion County public health officials, means the Indianapolis Motor Speedway can host up to 135,000 fans. Not a small number by any means, but it s far fewer than the race day s usual yearly attendance of about 300,000 people.