Will Power will wear special eclipse glasses next to the Borg-Warner Trophy. Photo: IndyCar
Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar held a special event on Monday, commemorating the total solar eclipse that passed directly over the famous speedway.
The solar eclipse, in which the moon completely obscured the sun for three minutes and 47 seconds, darkened the skies over Indianapolis shortly after 3:00 PM Eastern Time, bringing joy to people of all ages.
Around 50,000 individuals attended IMS for this once-in-a-lifetime event, with families coming from all 50 states and 33 countries around the world.
Those present enjoyed a full day of activities, including demonstration laps around the 2.5-mile oval by Ed Carpenter in his ECR Chevy, as well as an autograph session featuring IndyCar drivers and NASA astronauts.
There were also guided tours of the track, an atmospheric balloon launch, and the opportunity to interact with personalities from NASA TV and The Weather Channel, both of which were broadcasting live from the venue.
While the eclipse’s path stretched across the United States from Texas to Maine, Indianapolis was one of the few major metropolitan areas directly in its trajectory.
The speedway’s facilities proved more than capable of accommodating the large crowd, presenting IndyCar with the opportunity to attract potential new fans.
Many of those in attendance were not necessarily followers of IndyCar racing, and it is estimated that 80% had never been to an event of any kind at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before.
The chance to see the facility and witness the speed of 220 MPH firsthand in a relaxed environment may have contributed to increased ticket sales for upcoming races later this year.
The 108th edition of the Indianapolis 500 will take place in less than two months on May 26, with several weekends of action leading up to the main event.
For those who missed the unique experience of combining a visit to IMS with a solar eclipse, tickets for the next occurrence are not yet available. The next total solar eclipse to pass over the speedway will happen on October 17, 2153.