INDIANAPOLIS – The upcoming Fourth of July race weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be held without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stage five of Indiana’s reopening plan allows for sporting venues to host public events with social distancing and is scheduled to begin July 4 in most counties. However, Marion County – home to Indianapolis, the state’s largest city – recently entered stage three of the road map 10 days after the majority of counties. This follows nationwide trends suggesting larger municipalities should exercise caution in navigating plans to reopen.
“While we certainly worked diligently to run our events with spectators, we reached a point where we needed to make a final decision because the race weekend is less than a month away,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles said. “Today it’s not possible to be confident that Indianapolis will be at Stage 5 of the state’s reopening plan by the Fourth of July weekend.
“We are extremely appreciative of the time and expertise Governor Holcomb, Mayor Hogsett and state and local public health officials have given us over the last few months. This was a collaborative process and a decision we’re all aligned with after thorough review of the situation. We remain committed to welcoming the world’s greatest fans to the Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in late August.”
The headlining event of the weekend on July 5 has been renamed the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records, in recognition of the company’s ongoing efforts to support the supply chain of hand sanitizer available to the public.
The weekend will also feature the NTT IndyCar Series GMR Grand Prix and the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 on July 4, both of which will take place on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Fans who have purchased reserved seats or general admission tickets to the GMR Grand Prix, Pennzoil 150 or Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records will have the option for a credit to future Indianapolis Motor Speedway events or a refund. Track officials will contact these fans directly.
In addition, track officials have also announced the cancelation of the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series BC39 event at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the FGL Fest concert.