Indianapolis Star Sponsoring Opening Day at IMS

The Indianapolis Star, Indiana's largest daily newspaper, is the title sponsor of the opening day of Indianapolis 500 practice on Sunday, May 6. Practice starts at 1 p.m. (EST) and concludes for the day at 6 p.m.

Children age 12 and younger will be admitted to the Speedway grounds free of charge on Indianapolis Star Opening Day. Tickets for adults are $5 and are available on a two-for-one basis by presenting a coupon from advertisements running in The Indianapolis Star on April 29 and May 3-6. The coupons will be available on the The Star's Web site, starnews.com, as well.

All seating at the Speedway on Opening Day (plus all other practice days, qualification days and Coors Carb Day) is general admission, and tickets will be available at the Speedway ticket office and entrance gates. Call (317) 484-6700 for ticket information.

The first 3,000 children admitted on Indianapolis Star Opening Day will receive an opening day checkered flag courtesy of The Star. A special "kids only" autograph session with Indy Racing Northern Light Series drivers will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Pagoda Plaza, located behind the Speedway's 13-story Pagoda control tower. Children up to age 16 are invited.

The first 200 children at the session can have their picture taken in an Indy Racing car and receive a special "front page" poster of The Indianapolis Star with their photo on it.

"Indianapolis Star Opening Day is a great way to kick off the month of May, leading up to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing," said Bob Reif, senior vice president, sales and marketing and chief marketing officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "This is a great opportunity to strengthen the longstanding relationship between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and The Indianapolis Star, plus give our young fans the chance to meet their Indianapolis 500 heroes."

The Star and Indianapolis Motor Speedway will sell Indianapolis 500 fan packs throughout the month, each containing a souvenir Indianapolis 500 program and that day's edition of The Indianapolis Star.

The fan packs will be available at the Speedway's souvenir stands and gift shops, as well as Indianapolis International Airport, major hotels and locations throughout downtown Indianapolis.

The 85th running of the Indianapolis 500 is Sunday, May 27, at 11 a.m. (EST).
Bob Reif Indy Racing League IRL Indianapolis Star Sponsorship