IndyCar says it intends to hold this year’s Indianapolis 500 as planned despite potential complications caused by official guidance relating to the Coronavirus.
America’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday recommended postponing major events for eight weeks. That runs to May 10th, two days before practice for this year’s Indianapolis 500 is due to start.“We are aware of the CDC’s interim guidance suggesting the postponement of events involving more than 50 people over the next eight weeks,” said the championship in a statement.
“Our priority is to do our part in protecting the public health while still conducting the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge as scheduled on May 24th.”
IndyCar has already struck the first four races from its 2020 calendar due to the pandemic. The championship is now due to begin with the Indianapolis Grand Prix on the road circuit at the historic oval, but that is due to be held within the restricted period advised by the CDC.
“This continues to be a dynamic situation which we are monitoring constantly in coordination with federal, state, local and public health officials,” the IndyCar statement continued. “We are planning for all contingencies and will be prepared to run the GMR [Indianapolis] Grand Prix and Indy 500 as the COVID-19 situation permits.”
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IndyCar ‘Month of May’ schedule
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8th May | Indianapolis Grand Prix practice and qualifying |
| 9th May | Indianapolis Grand Prix |
| 12th May | Indianapolis 500 practice |
| 13th May | Indianapolis 500 practice |
| 14th May | Indianapolis 500 practice |
| 15th May | Indianapolis 500 practice |
| 16th May | Indianapolis 500 practice |
| 17th May | Indianapolis 500 qualifying |
| 18th May | Indianapolis 500 practice |
| 22nd May | Indianapolis 500 carb day |
| 24th May | Indianapolis 500 |
- View the current list of races cancelled due to the Coronavirus
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pastaman (@)
16th March 2020, 17:44
Cash is king even more when there are 300k spectators
Exediron (@exediron)
16th March 2020, 18:16
In my opinion, the headline is somewhat misleading. The Indy 500 is after the current eight week recommendation from the CDC expires, so there is no need to hold it ‘despite’ official recommendations.
In the message they sent me (as a ticket holder for the event) they said:
‘We are planning for all contingencies and will be prepared to run the GMR Grand Prix and Indy 500 as the COVID-19 situation permits.’
I don’t see any intention of ignoring advice to hold it. It’s just that at present the advice doesn’t say not to hold it. The situation might (and probably will) have developed greatly by May, so they are reasonably enough planning to go ahead as of now and make the decision later.
Bill
16th March 2020, 18:38
Precisely. There’s no mention of going ahead despite… They’re monitoring the situation like all other racing series and sports.
Tough to cancel the worlds biggest single day sporting event, but they will if needed.
Mark Zastrow (@markzastrow)
17th March 2020, 4:14
@excediron @Bill Completely agree—the headline doesn’t fit the content.
It does seem almost inevitable though that it will need to be moved. Even if Covid-19 is on the decline by then, as long as it’s hanging around in sporadic clusters it’s just too many people to bring together.
But a late fall date for the 500 as the season finale would be pretty exciting.
Invisiblekid (@invisiblekid)
17th March 2020, 7:39
Well yeah technically yes, its happening after. But it’s still just 48 hours after a “hunch” time expiry. “Despite” no, “riskily so after” yes.
Bruno Verrari
17th March 2020, 9:59
Impossibile…it’s gonna be illegal!