2026 Round 7 — 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500

Welcome to the r/INDYCAR practice 2 discussion thread for the 2026 Indianapolis 500.

For additional live chat and conversation, you may also wish to join us in our Discord server.

📅 SESSION SCHEDULE

All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−04:00).

Wednesday 13th May

• 12:00pm — 🛞 Practice 2 (6hrs)

📺 BROADCAST INFORMATION

Region	Practice 2
🌐	INDYCAR LIVE, 12pm EDT
🇺🇸	FS2, 12pm EDT; then FS1, 4pm EDT
🇨🇦	TSN+, 12pm EDT
🇮🇸	Viaplay, 4pm GMT
🇬🇧 🇮🇪	Sky Sports F1, 5pm BST
🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇸🇪	Viaplay, 18:00 CEST
🇭🇺	Net4+, 18:00 CEST
🇫🇮	Viaplay, 19:00 EEST
🇯🇵	GAORA On Demand, 25:00 JST
🇳🇿	Sky Sport 3, 4am NZST

2026 Round 7 — 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500

Welcome to the r/INDYCAR practice 1 discussion thread for the 2026 Indianapolis 500.

For additional live chat and conversation, you may also wish to join us in our Discord server.

📅 SESSION SCHEDULE

All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−04:00).

Tuesday 12th May

• 12:00pm — 🛞 Practice 1 (6hrs)

📺 BROADCAST INFORMATION

Region	Practice 1
🌐	INDYCAR LIVE, 12pm EDT
🇺🇸	FS2, 12pm EDT; then FS1, 4pm EDT
🇨🇦	TSN+, 12pm EDT
🇮🇸	Viaplay, 4pm GMT
🇬🇧 🇮🇪	Sky Sports F1, 5pm BST
🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇸🇪	Viaplay, 18:00 CEST
🇭🇺	Net4+, 18:00 CEST
🇫🇮	Viaplay, 19:00 EEST
🇯🇵	GAORA On Demand, 25:00 JST
🇳🇿	Sky Sport 2, 4am NZST

2026 Round 7 — 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500

Welcome to Indy 500 practice and qualifying week! Here we have collated all the information you might need for the upcoming week.

Additionally, feel free to use this thread as an open forum to discuss the various aspects of attending and enjoying the upcoming race weekend. Feel free to discuss things like meetups, ticket sales, parking, merchandise, food vendors, restaurants, journey plans, route maps, hotels, checklists, and whatever else comes to mind!

All questions regarding attending these sessions should ideally be posted in r/INDY500.

📍 CIRCUIT INFORMATION

• 🧭 Location — Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
• 🛣️ Track Type — Superspeedway oval
• 📏 Length — 2.5 miles (4.023km)
• 📐 Banking — Turns: 9.2°

IMS Facility Map — Midweek Practice (Tuesday–Thursday)

IMS Facility Map — Fast Friday

IMS Facility Map — PPG Armed Forces Qualifying (Saturday–Sunday)

📅 SESSION SCHEDULE

All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−04:00).

Tuesday 12th May

• 10:00am — Public gates open
• 12:00pm — 🛞 Practice 1 (6hrs)

Wednesday 13th May

• 10:00am — Public gates open
• 12:00pm — 🛞 Practice 2 (6hrs)

Thursday 14th May

• 10:00am — Public gates open
• 12:00pm — 🛞 Practice 3 (6hrs)

Friday 15th May — Fast Friday

• 10:00am — Public gates open
• 12:00pm — 🛞 Practice 4 (6hrs)
• 6:15pm — Qualifying Draw

Saturday 16th May — PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Day 1

• 8:00am — Public gates open
• 8:30am — 🛞 Practice 5 (1hr)
• 11:00am — ⏱️ Qualifying
  • 11:00am — Runs commence (5hrs, 50mins)
  • 5:50pm — Runs conclude

Sunday 17th May — PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Day 2

• 10:00am — Public gates open
• 1:00pm — 🛞 Practice 6
  • 1:00pm — "Final 15" {15th–10th} cars (1hr)
  • 2:00pm — "Top 12" {9th–1st} cars (1hr)
• 4:00pm — ⏱️ Qualifying
  • 4:05pm — Final 15
  • 5:00pm — Top 12
  • 6:35pm — Firestone Fast Six

📺 BROADCAST INFORMATION

https://preview.redd.it/h56fk3evub0h1.png?width=1500&format=png&auto=webp&s=f6b1cc1e8e2cf6ec8e32994c8b023388b9554019

🛞 Mid-week Practice

Region	Practice 1 (Tue)	Practice 2 (Wed)	Practice 3 (Thu)	Practice 4 (Fri)
🌐	INDYCAR LIVE, 12pm EDT	INDYCAR LIVE, 12pm EDT	INDYCAR LIVE, 12pm EDT	INDYCAR LIVE, 12pm EDT
🇺🇸	FS2, 12pm EDT; then FS1, 4pm EDT	FS2, 12pm EDT; then FS1, 4pm EDT	FS2, 12pm EDT; then FS1, 4pm EDT	FS2, 12pm EDT; then FS1, 4pm EDT
🇨🇦	TSN+, 4pm EDT	TSN+, 12pm EDT	TSN+, 12pm EDT	TSN+, 12pm EDT
🇮🇸	Viaplay, 4pm GMT	Viaplay, 4pm GMT	Viaplay, 4pm GMT	Viaplay, 4pm GMT
🇬🇧 🇮🇪	Sky Sports F1, 5pm BST	Sky Sports F1, 5pm BST	Sky Sports F1, 5pm BST	Sky Sports F1, 5pm BST
🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇸🇪	Viaplay, 18:00 CEST	Viaplay, 18:00 CEST	Viaplay, 18:00 CEST	Viaplay, 18:00 CEST
🇭🇺	Net4+, 18:00 CEST	Net4+, 18:00 CEST	Net4+, 18:00 CEST	Net4+, 18:00 CEST
🇫🇮	Viaplay, 19:00 EEST	Viaplay, 19:00 EEST	Viaplay, 19:00 EEST	Viaplay, 19:00 EEST
🇯🇵	GAORA On Demand, 25:00 JST	GAORA On Demand, 25:00 JST	GAORA On Demand, 25:00 JST	GAORA On Demand, 25:00 JST
🇳🇿	Sky Sport 2, 4am NZST	Sky Sport 3, 4am NZST	Sky Sport 5, 4am NZST	Sky Sport 6, 4am NZST

⏱️ PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Day 1 (Saturday)

Region	Practice 5	Day 1 Qualifications
🌐	INDYCAR LIVE, 8:30am EDT	INDYCAR LIVE, 11am EDT
🇺🇸	FS2, 8:30am EDT	FS2, 11am EDT; then FS1, 2pm EDT; then FOX, 4pm EDT
🇨🇦	TSN+, 8:30am EDT	TSN+, 11am EDT^(1)
🇮🇸	Viaplay, 12:30pm GMT	Viaplay, 3pm GMT
🇬🇧 🇮🇪	Sky Sports F1, 1:30pm BST	Sky Sports F1, 4pm BST
🇵🇹	—	SPORT TV 4, 16h00 WEST
🇪🇸	—	M+ Deportes 2, 17.00h CEST
🇳🇱	—	Ziggo Sport 3, 17:00 CEST
🇩🇪 🇨🇭 🇦🇹	—	Sky Sport F1 or Motorvision+, 17:00 CEST
🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇸🇪	Viaplay, 14:30 CEST	Viaplay, 17:00 CEST
🇸🇪	—	V Sport Motor, 17:00 CEST
🇭🇺	Net4+, 14:30 CEST	Net4+, 17:00 CEST
🇫🇮	Viaplay, 15:30 EEST	Viaplay, 18:00 EEST
🇯🇵	GAORA On Demand, 21:30 JST	GAORA SPORTS, 0:00 JST
🇦🇺	—	Stan Sport, 1am AEST
🇳🇿	—	Sky Sport 6, 3am NZST

Broadcast notes:

1. 🇨🇦 — ⏰ Late-join coverage also available on TSN2 from 4pm EDT.

⏱️ PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Day 2 (Sunday)

Region	Practice 6	Day 2 Qualifications
🌐	INDYCAR LIVE, 1pm EDT	INDYCAR LIVE, 4pm EDT
🇺🇸	FS2, 1pm EDT	FOX, 4pm EDT
🇨🇦	TSN+, 1pm EDT	TSN+, 4pm EDT
🇮🇸	Viaplay, 5pm GMT	Viaplay, 8pm GMT
🇬🇧 🇮🇪	Sky Sports F1, 6pm BST	Sky Sports F1, 9pm BST
🇵🇹	—	SPORT TV 5, 21h00 WEST
🇪🇸	—	M+ Deportes 2, 22.00h CEST
🇳🇱	—	Ziggo Sport 4, 22:00 CEST^(1)
🇩🇪 🇨🇭 🇦🇹	—	Sky Sport F1 or Motorvision+, 22:00 CEST
🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇸🇪	Viaplay, 19:00 CEST	Viaplay, 22:00 CEST
🇸🇪	—	V Sport Motor, 22:00 CEST
🇭🇺	Net4+, 19:00 CEST	Net4+, 22:00 CEST
🇫🇮	Viaplay, 20:00 EEST	Viaplay, 23:00 EEST
🇯🇵	GAORA On Demand, 27:00 JST	GAORA SPORTS, 5:00 JST
🇦🇺	—	Stan Sport, 6am AEST
🇳🇿	Sky Sport 6, 5am NZST	Sky Sport 2, 8am NZST

Broadcast notes:

1. 🇳🇱 — ⏰ Late-join coverage also available on Ziggo Sport 3 from 23:00 CEST, or Ziggo Sport from 23:10 CEST.

Any mods or regulars i need help. I was supposed to go with my dad. I bought the tickets he was supposed to get hotel and parking. Well he bailed on me 2 weeks out and lied about having the hotel and parking the entire time. Im planning to rent a car and drive the 10 hours but idk where ill be allowed to park. Please help me out. I will be going to this race out of spite to my dead beat p.o.s dad. 110th is gonna be big i will be there

My son turns 16 this month and I just bought plane tickets for the two of us to fly from Florida to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 as his birthday surprise.

This boy LOVES IndyCar. The house gets decorated for the Month of May. He follows the series nonstop, knows the drivers, watches old races, qualifying, all of it. When we asked what he wanted for his 16th birthday, he said he’d rather go to the 500 than get a car.

I grew up in Indianapolis and the 500 was always sacred ground to me. Somewhere along the way, without me forcing it, he caught the same bug.

And now I get to walk through those gates with him. Something I never was able to do with my dad. It’s hitting me harder emotionally than I expected. There’s something really special about sharing something you loved as a kid with your own son and watching him love it even more.

I’m still working on race tickets and trying to make the experience as special as I can, but no matter where we sit, I already know this is going to be one of the best memories of my life and hopefully his as well.

Just wanted to share because I’m ridiculously excited and I know people on this sub share my love and passion for the series. For now, I’m trying very hard not to ruin the surprise before his birthday.

We are staying downtown and dont have a car. What is the best way to get to the track.

IMS' shuttle service is sold out.

With the concert not happening, anyone know of alternatives around the speedway that are happening?

How strick is the 15x15x18 cooler rule? Could I get in a 18x17x18 cooler?

I've read a lot of posts on here as well as other places, but I wanted to get opinions here in case I'm missing anything.

I've got race day tickets for my first visit, and I've got a parking pass for a parking lot behind the suites near turn 1. I'll be going in the main gate on 16th street and I planned on getting to IMS at 7:00am on race day.

Is that too optimistic? I've seen people talk about getting there at 4:00am and 5:00am, so I wanted to make sure that I get there at a reasonable time to make it to the lot and to my seat.

Thanks!

As the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES take center stage for the upcoming 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, a massive and historic crowd will greet them with a thunderous roar as they take the green flag. All reserved seating for Race Day will be sold out for the second consecutive year, showcasing the continued and growing momentum fueling the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

The final reserved seat tickets will be sold today. In addition, reserved seat tickets will continue to be available on the IMS Official Resale Marketplace through Wednesday, May 20 at 4 p.m. ET.

While general admission tickets are still available in the IMS infield, fans hoping to attend Indy 500 Race Day are encouraged to purchase their tickets now by visiting IMS.com. Tickets for PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend, Miller Lite Carb Day and other practice days are still available for purchase.

I'm planning to either go for the practice day or race day

I'm planning to buy North Vista tickets for the race day

And I'm also ok to visit the parade day

Which day is the best for networking? Meeting people, seeing behind the scenes for the race.

My goal is to meet people, get names and try my best to leave an impression so when opportunities open I can use my network

Or

Create opportunities for myself

Which day is best

Which teams

And generally any other suggestions on talking to people

Edit: My expertise lies in software, data and product management.

Hi! Trying a new route this year. Can anyone tell me what traffic is like if driving southbound from the north on 465 around 6:30am? Is the Crawfordsville Rd exit backed up at this time? Parking in a yard near turn 4. Thanks!

Does anyone know if you get Hulman terrace club tickets if they come with the option to get garage passes for the day with it or not? Trying to do something nice for an anniversary and already going to the 500 but not trying to spend a lot on race day!

Anyone have a bleacher cushion/seat they SWEAR by for IMS? 🏁

I’ve used the IMS cushions for years and they’re fine, but after a full day at the track my back and tailbone are still over it 😂

My biggest issue is that the bleachers at IMS are more narrow/shallow than normal stadium bleachers, so a lot of cushions seem too deep and end up either pushing into the person behind or forcing your knees into the person in front of you.

Looking for something actually comfortable that fits IMS seating well and preferably isn’t massive to carry around all day. Bonus points if it survives an entire Indy 500 weekend without making you miserable lol.

I’d like to buy tickets to one of the practice days this week, but have never been to the track before. Where all can you go and what can you see with the regular ticket? Is there a way to purchase pit access or to the area where cars are lined up outside of garages (I think that’s what it is from what I’ve seen on others’ videos)? I’m wanting to bring my camera to take some photos throughout, not just of the cars racing. Also, what are the parking options? Happy to pay for closest parking if that’s an option. Thanks in advance for the info!

Can i bring the THC cart in? Im sure i would be fine but i just need that reddit validation yk?

Exciting news. Tickets are available in the Tower Terrace, South Terrace, Northeast Vista, North Vista. If you are thinking about waiting he says they will be sold out in the next 9 days!

There was some talk last year about it but it never came to fruition, but with the Washington DC street circuit later this year I believe it’s also a near guarantee that orange man will show up.

This is my first time going to the race after having a car accident that left me handicapped a couple years ago.
I have a handicap parking pass. But I don’t know how to navigate the day. Where is the handicap parking? And do they have golf carts or anything to help get you to your seats?
I use a cane, but I’m going to need assistance. I’m a lifelong Hoosier who has been crying on my couch the past couple years because I miss it so much. I’m ready to take my pain pills, pack a lunch so I don’t have to get up much. I just need to feel like I know what my options are for assistance and parking.