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Indy 500-Parking Strategy

Tony20

All-Big Ten
Apr 26, 2005
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Anyone have suggestions? I typically have always headed West on 16th from Capitol and hope to make it past Tibbs and find a spot. This year with huge crowds coming I'm not sure what to expect.
 
Anyone have suggestions? I typically have always headed West on 16th from Capitol and hope to make it past Tibbs and find a spot. This year with huge crowds coming I'm not sure what to expect.
Before I got permission to park at Speedway FD, I always would drive up about 2 weeks prior to the race and scout out locations in someones yard and would prepay and get a stub, so all I had to do was drive up at my leisure.

My best suggestion is Speedway high school, but you'd better get there before 7 AM to take advantage of that.

There's shuttles from several places as well. So check on that. Idk if the zoo still offers shuttles/parking or not, but those are great options too.
 
Anyone have suggestions? I typically have always headed West on 16th from Capitol and hope to make it past Tibbs and find a spot. This year with huge crowds coming I'm not sure what to expect.

Police escort.

Find an off duty officer to take you right to your lot. It's the only way to go, especially if you have a big group to split the fee with.
 
Anyone have suggestions? I typically have always headed West on 16th from Capitol and hope to make it past Tibbs and find a spot. This year with huge crowds coming I'm not sure what to expect.

I'm parking in Louisville and coaching my basketball team. F the race.

You can park where my dad lives. The cemetery is right on Tibbs, and his plot is in the grid that bumps up against the road.
 
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There are possibly 6 different correct answers depending upon where you sit; however, cruising down 16th Street from Capitol Ave is probably one of the worst selections you can make.
 
If I were going this year, I would probably look at the shuttle routes. Ultimately, I would be a man, sack up and just drive blindly down there and find a place to park...all while acting like I had a plan the entire time.

This.

Unfortunately I have family coming in from 6 states. Usually I play golf and listen to race on radio. Less traffic and most courses are empty. Not looking forward to this one bit. Guess I'll just have to take my patience medicine.
 
There are possibly 6 different correct answers depending upon where you sit; however, cruising down 16th Street from Capitol Ave is probably one of the worst selections you can make.

I'm in Turn 2. What other route would you suggest?
 
I've usually parked in that shopping center off Crawfordsville Road. There's a tire place that is a good place to park, and it's a quick way out with easy access to 465.
 
If you are in turn 2 we’ve found the best place to park is just east of the golf course on the north side of 16th street.


We always come down Cold Spring and take a right on 30th to your next left on Warman where you can cut through the neighborhoods across Kessler until you hit Tibbs and take a left. Go south until you take a right on like 21st and follow that around to Luett Ave, where there will be lots of yard parking and you are a quick walk down the steps to 16th and follow the crowd to your turn 2 entrance.
 
We park in same yard every year. It's close to turn 2. Plan on doing the same this year however, we are leaving an hour and half earlier than previous years.
 
IMS considering showing the race live due to high ticket sales.

Last time it was shown live in the Indy market was 1950!

Intersting.
 
The main thing is to get off of 16th Street as soon as possible. Turn right on Lafayette Road as soon as you cross the river and take it to 20th and just start heading west until you can't go any further. You will cross Tibbs and should be able to go right to the railroad tracks east of the golf course and go south until you are around 17th Street.

Get your passengers to get on their map app and be creative.

It will give them something to do instead of mixing cocktails and it's doubtful that you will get shot at that time of day.
 
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If you are in turn 2 we’ve found the best place to park is just east of the golf course on the north side of 16th street.


We always come down Cold Spring and take a right on 30th to your next left on Warman where you can cut through the neighborhoods across Kessler until you hit Tibbs and take a left. Go south until you take a right on like 21st and follow that around to Luett Ave, where there will be lots of yard parking and you are a quick walk down the steps to 16th and follow the crowd to your turn 2 entrance.

I like the sound of this route....but we are in the infield so need to in Gate 2 on 116th St. Do you know if they will let me out onto 116th if I take your route Livingston and try to pop out right there on 116th before the golf course?

We are leaving Fishers at 4:30am this year....hope it's early enough! We usually leave between 5:30 and 6:30 and are in the infield with beer in-hand by 8am.
 
If you are in turn 2 we’ve found the best place to park is just east of the golf course on the north side of 16th street.


We always come down Cold Spring and take a right on 30th to your next left on Warman where you can cut through the neighborhoods across Kessler until you hit Tibbs and take a left. Go south until you take a right on like 21st and follow that around to Luett Ave, where there will be lots of yard parking and you are a quick walk down the steps to 16th and follow the crowd to your turn 2 entrance.

Just googled this route. Like the sound of this. Thank you!
 
Anyone have suggestions? I typically have always headed West on 16th from Capitol and hope to make it past Tibbs and find a spot. This year with huge crowds coming I'm not sure what to expect.
Go East to Surf City, NC and park your ass on the beach, f#ck the race.
 
I like the sound of this route....but we are in the infield so need to in Gate 2 on 116th St. Do you know if they will let me out onto 116th if I take your route Livingston and try to pop out right there on 116th before the golf course?

We are leaving Fishers at 4:30am this year....hope it's early enough! We usually leave between 5:30 and 6:30 and are in the infield with beer in-hand by 8am.
hmm, not sure as we've always just parked right there. I imagine one of those side streets will still have access to 16th though
 
Anyone have suggestions? I typically have always headed West on 16th from Capitol and hope to make it past Tibbs and find a spot. This year with huge crowds coming I'm not sure what to expect.
We always park in the same yard on Crawfordsville Rd. The lady who lives there always keeps 2 sports open for us. It's nice knowing you have a spot going in that morning.
 
We're leaving Broad Ripple at 4am. Need to be in line for Turn 3 parking by 5, if they let us line up that early.
 
Anyone have suggestions? I typically have always headed West on 16th from Capitol and hope to make it past Tibbs and find a spot. This year with huge crowds coming I'm not sure what to expect.


Do what I do and ride your bike.

But 16th and 30th going West are nightmares absent a police escort.
 
Anyone have suggestions? I typically have always headed West on 16th from Capitol and hope to make it past Tibbs and find a spot. This year with huge crowds coming I'm not sure what to expect.
65- 29th/30th st exit...take a left, continue west...park at Ritter HS...easy in...easy out
 
Take 38th, and head east until you get to ML King Dr. Then head south until you run into W. Washington. Head west to 465 N, until you get to 38th. Head east on 38th until you get to ML King Dr. Look for a spot wherever you can, then call Uber.

Repeat, rinse, repeat.

I don't mean this in a negative way, but anymore, the 500 means nothing to anyone who didn't grow up in Indy. Really - I don't mean this as a snark or troll, but it once had a national presence. Today? I don't think so.

Am I wrong?
 
Take 38th, and head east until you get to ML King Dr. Then head south until you run into W. Washington. Head west to 465 N, until you get to 38th. Head east on 38th until you get to ML King Dr. Look for a spot wherever you can, then call Uber.

Repeat, rinse, repeat.

I don't mean this in a negative way, but anymore, the 500 means nothing to anyone who didn't grow up in Indy. Really - I don't mean this as a snark or troll, but it once had a national presence. Today? I don't think so.

Am I wrong?
I've got patients here in Pittsburgh who talk about it. I know a handful of people who are going this year or have went in the past 5 years who have no connection to Indy.
It probably is smaller than it once was, but I woudnt say it only has a fanbase in Indy.

We went to the Grand Prix in St Pete in March and it had a good crowd as well.
 
I've got patients here in Pittsburgh who talk about it. I know a handful of people who are going this year or have went in the past 5 years who have no connection to Indy.
It probably is smaller than it once was, but I woudnt say it only has a fanbase in Indy.

We went to the Grand Prix in St Pete in March and it had a good crowd as well.
I have college buddies from Indy who live by it, and while I don't get it, and never will, I'm not a hater. But, that said, I do remember as a kid (back before electricity) listening to it on the radio in the car while we drove to the cemetery to pay respects to family members. Its just not that same thing anymore.
 
I have college buddies from Indy who live by it, and while I don't get it, and never will, I'm not a hater. But, that said, I do remember as a kid (back before electricity) listening to it on the radio in the car while we drove to the cemetery to pay respects to family members. Its just not that same thing anymore.
Nothing is the same anymore...
 
Take 38th, and head east until you get to ML King Dr. Then head south until you run into W. Washington. Head west to 465 N, until you get to 38th. Head east on 38th until you get to ML King Dr. Look for a spot wherever you can, then call Uber.

Repeat, rinse, repeat.

I don't mean this in a negative way, but anymore, the 500 means nothing to anyone who didn't grow up in Indy. Really - I don't mean this as a snark or troll, but it once had a national presence. Today? I don't think so.

Am I wrong?
Based on the crowd at qualifications this weekend, I would say that it has a regional interest still. Probably not the national following it once had when it was one of 5 things on TV (pre-cable)...but the 300k+ people that will pack in there on Sunday won't all be from indy
 
Take 38th, and head east until you get to ML King Dr. Then head south until you run into W. Washington. Head west to 465 N, until you get to 38th. Head east on 38th until you get to ML King Dr. Look for a spot wherever you can, then call Uber.

Repeat, rinse, repeat.

I don't mean this in a negative way, but anymore, the 500 means nothing to anyone who didn't grow up in Indy. Really - I don't mean this as a snark or troll, but it once had a national presence. Today? I don't think so.

Am I wrong?




300,000+ will be there on Sunday and tens of millions will watch it.

You're either being silly or provocative.
 
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I have college buddies from Indy who live by it, and while I don't get it, and never will, I'm not a hater. But, that said, I do remember as a kid (back before electricity) listening to it on the radio in the car while we drove to the cemetery to pay respects to family members. Its just not that same thing anymore.


You don't "get" the Indy 500? lol

My dad doesn't "get" the White Album.

It's still the f*cking White Album.
 
You don't "get" the Indy 500? lol

My dad doesn't "get" the White Album.

It's still the f*cking White Album.
I used the word get, maybe I should have said get into. Its just not my idea of a good time.

But, I imagine if I grew up in Indy, and had a lifetime of memories from that event and everything surrounding it, then it would be something different to me? And I'm really not trying to be silly or provocative, it was just an observation that the 500 isn't what it used to be.
 
I used the word get, maybe I should have said get into. Its just not my idea of a good time.

But, I imagine if I grew up in Indy, and had a lifetime of memories from that event and everything surrounding it, then it would be something different to me? And I'm really not trying to be silly or provocative, it was just an observation that the 500 isn't what it used to be.



How many 500s have you been to and which years?
 
I have college buddies from Indy who live by it, and while I don't get it, and never will, I'm not a hater. But, that said, I do remember as a kid (back before electricity) listening to it on the radio in the car while we drove to the cemetery to pay respects to family members. Its just not that same thing anymore.

Do you enjoy hanging out with 30 of your closest friends, having breakfast together, bloody mary's, a concert with 30,000 people at 8am, drinking 15 different kinds of craft beer, playing cornhole, beer frisbee, beer pong, dancing to music, grilling out brats and steaks and burgers, and just having an all-around great time with your friends? That's what the Indy 500 is about. This crap about the race not being relevant anymore is a bunch of bulls*t.

I've taken 30+ people into the infield for about 10 years now....every single year (other than this year) it's been a "down year." No, it's not the 1970s/80s Snake Pit and no there aren't 100+ race teams vying for the 33 spots during quals, but it's still the biggest sporting event in the world and it's still the best day of the year for my crew. I still have friends that won't go because they "don't like racing." Well, guess what? Neither do 80% of the rest of the people that are attending. It's so much bigger than the race. It's about making memories with your friends.

And I don't buy that's it not relevant. We had 3 21 year olds fly all the way from Sydney to join us in 2012. I've had people in from Portland and DesMoines and Toledo and San Francisco. This year, I have a couple of people flying in from San Antonio.
 
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Do you enjoy hanging out with 30 of your closest friends, having breakfast together, bloody mary's, a concert with 30,000 people at 8am, drinking 15 different kinds of craft beer, playing cornhole, beer frisbee, beer pong, dancing to music, grilling out brats and steaks and burgers, and just having an all-around great time with your friends? That's what the Indy 500 is about. This crap about the race not being relevant anymore is a bunch of bulls*t.

I've taken 30+ people into the infield for about 10 years now....every single year (other than this year) it's been a "down year." No, it's not the 1970s/80s Snake Pit and no there aren't 100+ race teams vying for the 33 spots during quals, but it's still the biggest sporting event in the world and it's still the best day of the year for my crew. I still have friends that won't go because they "don't like racing." Well, guess what? Neither do 80% of the rest of the people that are attending. It's so much bigger than the race. It's about making memories with your friends.

And I don't buy that's it not relevant. We had 3 21 year olds fly all the way from Sydney to join us in 2012. I've had people in from Portland and DesMoine and Toledo and San Francisco. This year, I have a couple of people flying in from San Antonio.
That all sounds like a great time, but not sure I follow your comment. You list all the party things going on, and never mention the race, and then say the race not being relevant anymore is a bunch of bullshite? In your own words, the race wasn't relevant to the party you were having?

I'm really not a hater - have a great weekend!
 
So basically you're just yapping out your ass.
You would have it no other way.

So, basically, what your saying is that if I lived in Indy, have been to the race a number of times ever since I was a wee lad, and attended a race weekend soiree hosted by @hurryin76hoosier, then I would love it? Isn't that what I've been saying?
 
Take 38th, and head east until you get to ML King Dr. Then head south until you run into W. Washington. Head west to 465 N, until you get to 38th. Head east on 38th until you get to ML King Dr. Look for a spot wherever you can, then call Uber.

Repeat, rinse, repeat.

I don't mean this in a negative way, but anymore, the 500 means nothing to anyone who didn't grow up in Indy. Really - I don't mean this as a snark or troll, but it once had a national presence. Today? I don't think so.

Am I wrong?

I think it means plenty to racing people. Just listen to the drivers speak of the event and the race, especially those from other series. They think it's a big deal.

And dear god don't park at Ritter....it's another ~2 miles to the track.
 
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