Indianapolis GP

[hatewinter]

So this is my first gp race and  I was wondering if you guys could give me some insight into what to expect?  How early should I get there(not watching 125 WUP)?  What's the atmosphere like?  How much are beers?  What kind of events/attractions are around the track?  Anything you guys can give me.  I'm super pumped even though its a  month away.

[muskrat]

lots of boobs and wheels, nothing else matters in this world. 
never been to a moto race there but have done cars twice and the costs were fairly cheap compared to some other locations.  I think, or remember vaguely, that you can bring a cooler but NO glass.

[Ratfink749]

The only thing I wasn't prepared for when I went to Indy a couple years ago is the overwhelming LOUDness of the 800's Holy crap the sound from them is overwhelming!  The whole atmosphere of the GP isnt really something that can be explained, it must be expierenced in person, and you will come away from it a changed person!  Some day I'll go back, but for now I'll just keep on living with happy memories.  If you can get paddock passes..  do so! 

[rockaduc]

bring ear plugs.  those babies are LOUD.  if you have a chance, go see the indy mile flat track race which is usually held on sat. night.

[hatewinter]

I got the paddock passes after a lil' research!  Unfortunately I'm only going to make it on raceday...i'd love to campout all weekend.  I just want to see Jorge lowside...nothing to dangerous..just enough to keep his ego in check. 

[jmoth79]

Is there camping allowed on the infield??

Its my first GP as well.  I just bought a GA pass for the weekend.

How much are paddock passes and where do I go to get them? 

Thanks!!

[NuTTs]

See the Hoosier Hooligans forum for more info. They are the nicest people out there.

www.hoosierhooligans.org

[duccarlos]

You camp just outside the Speedway. I camped last year and it was great to be able to wake up and walk across the street. You can also get the Project Mugello tickets and stay in the DOC hotels if you're so inclined. Did that the year before.

If I was to go on the cheap, then I would camp and volunteer to work in Ducati Island. You would work 2 shifts in the Island and would get free general admission tickets. I went to Laguna on the cheap last year (used my miles to fly to San Jose, stayed with my brother at his appt and volunteered).

[dropstharockalot]

Camping is allowed outside the track.  The IMS stopped selling permits for camping in the track because of sexual misconduct and RV fires.

Seriously.

The IMS website has a ton of info about what is and isn't permitted in the stands on raceday.  My experience has been that they aren't too strict about the restrictions (say, the 14" cooler thing or glass bottles thing) until it becomes a problem.  I've taken bottles in on a couple occassions and not had an issue, but if I threw one or broke one in the stands, I'd expect the "yellowshirts" to toss me out.

Track food & beer is highway robbery (as one would expect). The food selection inside the track is limited, but all manner of tents and stands set up along Georgetown Road - so eat before you go in.  Also, there are enough supermarkets and liquor stores in the area that you can easily grab a throw-away cooler and a case and lug it into the track - all for about what you'd pay for three or four track beers.

Indy's a great town with a ton of stuff happening.  If you're not going to the Hoosier Hooligans events or the Indy Mile flattrack race, let me know what you're looking for and I'll try to post a link to something that fits the bill.

[mitt]

If you want to get drunk after the race, buy extra booze on Saturday!  No alcohol sales on Sundays.  I learned that the hard way but some nice local yocals set me up with a bunch of left over beer from their campers.  You can literally camp almost anywhere around the track - in a tent or RV.  There are official IMS campgrounds, and also a ton of residents rent out their yards.  Don't plan on sleeping much - it is louder than hell until 2am, then all starts again at 6 or 7am (can't remember) with a cherry bomb from hell followed by engines firing up.

Getting out of the track on a bike is a cluster-fvck on Sunday.  THere is only 1 way traffic out of the area.  I had to drive 1 hour and 20 miles to go 1 mile back to my tent.  I should have just waited in the infield for an hour till traffic cleared.

mitt

[Bigbore4]

+11tyb

Last year I was going from Indy to Bub Speed Trials at Bonneville.  I cleared the track at about 4:30 after the race, wasn't westbound until about 5:30.

I could have chilled with my bud's for an hour and then left and been uppers.

[duccarlos]

The first year I got lost going back to the hotel from the track. The traffic was awful. Took me one and a half hours to get back.

Camping at the track is by far the best option if you want to avoid that nightmare traffic.

[superjohn]

If you're inclined, take some cash for the vendors who will have a lot of cool stuff on display.

Ducati Island is cool. Make sure to check out the autograph schedules if you're into that sort of thing.

Definitely go check out the Indy Mile.

[hatewinter]

Thanks for all the advice.  I have plenty of time to process it.

[cyrus buelton]

Several backroads into the track, but in general............get there earlier rather than later so you don't sit on 16th st or Georgetown road.

Personally, I've always found Georgetown the preferred way into the track.

Pay to park in someone's yard verse trying to get free parking at the event.

You'll spend less time in your car, if you are driving.


Never really got the point of riding to the race......hard to pack a cooler, food, etc etc.