'Just indescribable': Indy 500 draws crowd of 325,000 people, biggest since 2016
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway returned to full capacity for the first time since 2020, when the pandemic put an unforeseeable end to large group gatherings.
In 2020, for the first time in its history, the Indianapolis 500 was hosted without any spectators.
In 2021, the race track welcomed nearly 135,000 fans in person. A crowd gigantic in size for COVID-19 times, but it was still only about 40% of IMS' full capacity. Last year, masks were required when not eating or drinking, but few appeared to follow the rules.
Indy 500 2022: The Indy 500 is ready for a return to full glory, and Doug Boles has a secret
This year, IMS welcomed 325,000 people to the track.
Indy 500 2021: The Indy 500 has one of the biggest crowds since COVID with 135K. Few are wearing masks
Here's how people reacted to the crowd size:
This crowd for the Indy 500 is absolutely Insane. I’d cry if i ever saw that for any NASCAR race 😭
— Mike Hartnett (@Harts243) May 29, 2022
Indy 500 crowd is a proper sporting event crowd, just indescribable!!
— Liam Redford (@Liam_Redford) May 29, 2022
I have no rooting interest in IndyCar, but I’m tuned into the Indy 500 and the amount of people in the stands is absolutely stellar and I love to see it. Just gonna watch and enjoy as a de-stressor after F1.
— Jonathan Patten (@shoelessjp) May 29, 2022
THE PEOPLE ARE BACK ON THE STANDS, THE BLUE IS BACK ON THE SKY AND WE ARE BACK FOR THIS MEMORIAL CLASSIC, THIS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE GREATEST SPECTACLE ON EARTH, THE START OF THE INDY 500 FOR YOU TO SEE !!!
— E (@emmanuelrubi) May 29, 2022
If you've never been here to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 you should if you ever have a chance. It's such an experience, mind blowing to have 300,000 ppl in the stands! Even if you don't like racing you still must experience it, the flyover of the jets will give you chills 🏁🇺🇲
— Misty Darby (@MistyDarby1) May 29, 2022
I am happy to see the crowd size at Indy 500.
— TANNER still masked (@rjtanner) May 29, 2022
Some were less thrilled about the crowd. For others, the number of fans brought on an all-too-familiar Indy 500 complaint ... the widely-unpopular TV blackout.
Do I miss going to the Indy 500? Nope. Especially after seeing that crowd.
— Jen ❤️ Buckeyes (@Jenizzle78) May 29, 2022
They just said on TV that this is the largest crowd for the Indy 500 in 20 years... and they still can't lift the blackout?!
— RaeAnn (@rwintin7) May 29, 2022
Contact Rashika Jaipuriar at rjaipuriar@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @rashikajpr.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 crowd size: Biggest crowd since 2016 draws 325,000 people
