Indianapolis Motor Speedway is essential for motorsport fans, but it works best when you book a specific event—especially a May practice or qualifying day—rather than expecting a walk-in track tour.
Book a scheduled event ticket
The track is an event venue, not a freely explorable attraction; IMS requires admission or a ticket for event access, and 2027 public prices are not yet published.
MoreApply early for Indy 500 seats
Submit an official ticket application before live sales if you need a particular section, shade, aisle seat or adjacent seats, since desirable inventory is heavily renewed and new-purchaser Penthouse and Deck seats are extremely limited.
MoreChoose practice or qualifying first
For a first visit with serious on-track action and substantially easier movement than Race Day, choose a weekday May practice or Indy 500 qualifying rather than only the May 30 race.
MoreMatch parking to your gate
Buy the specific official parking pass or use the official Race Day shuttle, then follow that event’s daily map and QR-code routing because gates, roads and traffic patterns vary by event.
MoreIndianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is the 2.5-mile rectangular oval in Speedway, Indiana, known as the Brickyard. Built in 1909 as an automotive proving ground, it was repaved that year with 3.2 million bricks, a surviving strip of which marks the start-finish line; the first Indianapolis 500 followed in 1911. A National Historic Landmark with more than 250,000 permanent seats, it is the world’s largest sports-seating facility and hosts the Indy 500, NASCAR’s Brickyard 400, IndyCar road-course events, IMSA and GT racing.
For motorsport fans, IMS is a pilgrimage: its vast scale, the surviving bricks and the noise of cars at speed make its century-plus role in American racing tangible. Indy 500 qualifying or a weekday May practice day is usually a more rewarding first visit than Race Day, with serious track action and less crowd and traffic pressure. Skip it if loud engines, sun, long walks, dense event crowds or event-day logistics are unappealing; the track is not a walk-in historic site on ordinary non-event days.
Before you go
Usually no. IMS is an event venue, not a track that visitors can freely wander on ordinary days. Public access requires admission or a ticket for the specific event. Do not assume that National Historic Landmark status means the racing facility is open for self-guided visits.
For a first visit, target Indy 500 qualifying (May 22–23, 2027) or a weekday practice (May 18–21 or May 24). These offer meaningful on-track action with much easier movement and less transport stress than Indy 500 Race Day. Allow 3–5 hours for practice and 5–8 hours for qualifying.
The 2027 Indianapolis 500 is Sunday, May 30. Other scheduled events include the Sonsio Grand Prix (May 14–15), Indy 500 practice (May 18–21 and May 24), qualifying (May 22–23), Carb Day (May 28), Legends Day (May 29), Brickyard Weekend (July 23–25), IMSA Battle on the Bricks (September 17–19), and GT World Indianapolis (October 1–3). See the official schedule: https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/season-schedule
Apply early through IMS if seat location, shade, an aisle, or a group of adjacent seats matters to you. New applicants may list up to three stand/price preferences, but assignments depend on renewals and availability. Public live sales are expected in late fall 2026; IMS says tickets generally go on sale in fall. Use the official application guidance: https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/buy-tickets/ticket-application-faqs
Not for most public products as of October 16, 2026. IMS has announced dates and is accepting applications/reorders for major events, but a complete 2027 public price list is not yet available. Do not use remaining 2026 price pages as a 2027 quote.
General admission gets you into the grounds and viewing mounds but does not include a grandstand seat. A reserved-seat ticket includes gate admission, viewing-mound access, and an assigned grandstand seat. Children 15 and under enter free with a paid adult general-admission ticketholder, but that does not provide them a reserved seat.