Empty Stands for the Indianapolis 500 on August 23
Along with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 Mile race is certainly one of the major events on the motor sport calendar.
The oval where the race is run has more than 250,000 permanent seats and can accommodate tens of thousands of additional spectators within the immense 2.5-mile track. Every year, far more than 100,000, and sometimes even more than 200,000, gather on site for this extraordinary celebration.
This year will be different. Exceptionally, the event is taking place on August 23 as a result of the coronavirus. What’s more, there won’t be any spectators on hand to cheer on the participants. Back in the spring, officials of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) had hoped they could allow in 100,000 fans, but evolving conditions have put the kibosh on that plan.
Indiana is one of the states where the number of Covid-19 cases is on the rise. IMS explained in a statement that in Marion County, home to the organization, the number of cases has tripled and the positivity rate has recently doubled.
"As dedicated as we were to running the race this year with 25 percent attendance at our large outdoor facility, even with meaningful and careful precautions implemented by the city and state, the COVID-19 trends in Marion County and Indiana have worsened," IMS noted.
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