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IMS president: Indy 500 ticket demand up, Fox TV deal will broaden coverage; museum reopens April 2
Summary
Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Bowles said ticket sales for the 109th Indianapolis 500 were ahead of last year by about 9,200 units and touted a new TV partnership with Fox; he also announced the Motor Speedway Museum will reopen to the public April 2.
Doug Bowles, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said the Indianapolis 500 ticket sales were running ahead of last year by about 9,200 units and expressed optimism that the race could sell more seats than ever if current trends continued.
Bowles highlighted a new media partnership with Fox for the NTT IndyCar Series and said the series ran national Super Bowl advertising, noting the greater national exposure and urging residents to tune in. He also described an expanded racing calendar (including sprint cars on the dirt track and additional IMSA/Endurance events) and said NASCAR and other Brickyard weekend scheduling hopes were centered on returning to a stable July/August timeframe.
Bowles outlined operational notes for Speedway: anticipated race‑week population spikes (he estimated close to 350,000 people in town on Memorial Day weekend if ticket sales reach projected levels), efforts to add sprint cars to Sprint Week, and upcoming events including the Saint Petersburg season opener and the Firestone Grand Prix.
He also announced the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum would reopen April 2 with a new “starting line experience,” a revamped mezzanine and basement access, and new displays and programming.
Ending: Bowles thanked Speedway residents for their support and encouraged attendance for the season opener and the Indianapolis 500; no town‑level operational orders or emergency measures were announced at the event.
