UPDATE: IMS to lift local blackout of race on NBC

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3 p.m. update: IMS said on X that the local blackout of the televised race will be lifted due to storms. The race will air on NBC affiliate WTHR-13. The speedway also said that track drying is underway to start the race later this afternoon.

IndyStar reported yesterday that roughly 345,000 tickets had been sold, 15,000 more than a year ago and just a few thousand short of the sellout in 2016, but IMS had no plans to lift the local blackout, which affects Indianapolis and Lafayette NBC affiliates.

Earlier: At 2:04 p.m., Indianapolis Motor Speedway posted on X, formerly Twitter, that lightning had cleared the area around the speedway, gates had re-opened and spectators were permitted to return to the grandstands. Radar shows rain has mostly cleared out.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Marion County and southeastern Hamilton County as heavy rain and strong wind hits the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and central Indiana region, delaying the start of the Indianapolis 500.

The NWS warned that wind gusts could reach 60 miles per hour and could cause damage to roofs, siding and trees.

The warning is in effect until 1:15 p.m.

Thunderstorms over Central Indiana will continue to push northeast through early afternoon. These storms will reach Noblesville, Kokomo, Anderson and Shelbyville between 1pm and 2pm. The storms may produce 40 mph wind gusts, very heavy rain and lightning. When thunder roars, go indoors! #inwx #indy

Gusts reported at the IND Airport were up to 55 mph

Fans took shelter under the Indianapolis Motor Speedway grandstands as a storm approached Indianapolis just as festivities were to start for the Indy 500. (IBJ photo/Mickey Shuey)

Fans at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are taking cover and some are even leaving the track as a storm approached Indianapolis, just as festivities were set to begin for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500.

IMS announced at 11:17 a.m. that it would pause pre-race ceremonies to move fans out of the grandstands and Snake Pit, where a concert was underway.

The video boards inside the Speedway flashed that a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect as the storm approached from the west. It was expected to bring heavy rain along with dangerous wind and lightning.

“Spectators are encouraged to follow the instructions of IMS team members. They should exit the grandstands in an orderly fashion and implement their personal safety plans,” IMS said.

Rain started at about 12:15 and the wind had picked.

Thousands of fans crowded under the IMS grandstands to take shelter, while others stayed put with umbrellas and ponchos.

The music stopped in the Snake Pit but a number of fans seemed unsure where to go. Some left the area; others milled around or just sat down in the grass to wait out the weather.

IMS stopped the music in the Snake Pit but some fans decided to try to wait out the storm in the infield. (IBJ photo/Mickey Shuey)

IMS President Doug Boles had announced earlier Sunday that officials expected the rain to reach Speedway as soon as noon. He said that fans would be free to come and go from the track, even though typically so-called “pass outs” are not permitted at the track.

Boles said that despite the weather, IndyCar officials believed they would have a window of time to dry the track and start the race. The race is official if the lead driver completes at least 101 laps. Still, Boles said, the safety of the crowd—expected to top 300,000 people—is IMS’s top priority.

The track takes about 90 minutes to dry, depending on a number of factors. IMS brought in NASCAR’s track drying equipment to use along with its own in the hopes of speeding up the process.

If the rain persists, or the window to run the race does not last long enough, the entire 200-lap race would be run Monday.

“No matter what decision we make at this point, it’s going to be a difficult one for some of our fans,” Boles said. “Our hope still, based on what the weather looks like, we can begin drying the track around 2:30 or 3:00 and be able to start.”

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