IMS Lifts Indy 500 TV Blackout

(photo courtesy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

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For the second consecutive year, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has lifted the local television blackout for the Indianapolis 500. The Speedway says it has reached its 40% venue capacity limit for this year’s race, with 135,000 fans expected to attend.

On a typical race day, the local broadcast of the Indy 500 is delayed until the evening. In a statement posted on social media, IMS says race fans can tune into the broadcast at 11 a.m. on NBC.

Last year, IMS lifted the blackout when it was expected the race would be held with 25% venue capacity due to the pandemic. Those plans were changed and the race was held without any fans in the stands.

The only other time in more than 60 years that the TV blackout has been lifted was in 2016 for the 100th running of the Indy 500. The decision was made after reserved and general admission tickets sold out for the historic race.