Key Points Summary:

• 2025 Indianapolis 500 nearly sold out, first time since 2016
• Local TV blackout lifted — fans in Indy can watch live
• Event expected to draw over 350,000 people
• Same-day NBA playoff game adds to citywide sports frenzy
• Fox Sports debuts its first-ever Indy 500 broadcast
• General admission tickets still available
• IMS celebrates fans and traditions around “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”

Start your engines, Indy — and turn on your TVs!

The Indianapolis 500 is charging toward a historic full-house sellout, and for the first time since the centennial running in 2016, race day won’t just rock the grandstands — it’ll be broadcast live across Central Indiana too!

With just days to go before the May 25 spectacle, IMS officials confirmed that the 2025 Indy 500 will lift its notorious local television blackout, setting the stage for a massive citywide celebration of speed, spectacle, and sports supremacy.

A Full House and Then Some: Over 350,000 Expected on Race Day

Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles didn’t mince words Friday morning when he dropped the news fans have waited nearly a decade to hear.

“We’re within four digits of a sellout,” Boles declared. “And we expect the grandstands to be 100% sold by Monday.”

That means 232,000 grandstand seats filled, plus another 20,000 premium suite seats, thousands more in the infield, and over 12,000 workers and race staff. Altogether, race day attendance is expected to surge past 350,000, reclaiming the Indy 500’s place as the largest single-day sporting event on Earth.

Blackout Lifted: Local Fans Can Finally Watch the Race Live

For locals who couldn’t snag tickets, here’s the game-changing news: you won’t have to wait until dinner to catch the action. In a move reserved only for sellout years, the blackout will be lifted in Indianapolis, meaning viewers across the metro area will be able to tune in live as the green flag waves.

“For so many of our fans, their tradition is to race home from the track, fire up the TV, and watch it all over again,” Boles said. “This year, whether you’re in the stands or on the couch, you won’t miss a second.”

Doubleheader Madness: Indy 500 and Pacers Playoff Game on Same Day

As if that weren’t enough, May 25 is turning into one of the biggest sports days in Indiana history. The Indiana Pacers will also host a critical NBA playoff game that evening, creating a day-long adrenaline rush from the track to the hardwood.

How will fans juggle it all?

“I’m sure people will be bouncing between the race and the game,” Boles laughed. “It’s a great problem to have. It’s a celebration of everything this city stands for.”

Fox Sports Goes Full Throttle for First-Ever Indy 500 Broadcast

This sellout moment arrives with perfect timing for Fox Sports, which is broadcasting the Indy 500 for the first time under its new deal with IndyCar.

“Fox Sports is all in on IndyCar,” said CEO Eric Shanks. “And this is the kind of moment we dream about. A sellout. A city alive. A historic race. We’re going big.”

Expect top-tier production, wall-to-wall coverage, and a nationwide audience tuning in to experience the new era of IndyCar coverage.

General Admission Still Up for Grabs — But Not for Long

Though the grandstand seats are vanishing fast, general admission tickets are still available — for now.

Want to be part of racing history? You better act fast. Ticket counters are buzzing, and IndyCar officials are urging fans to lock in their spots while they still can.

More Than a Race — A Family Tradition

Yes, it’s a race. But for hundreds of thousands of fans, the Indianapolis 500 is personal.

“It’s more than just a sporting event,” Boles said. And it’s about tradition, community, and pride in this city.”

Ask any Hoosier, and you’ll hear stories of tailgates at dawn, lawn chairs in the infield, checkered flags in the driveway. The Indy 500 is stitched into the cultural fabric of Indiana.

Will Trump Attend? IMS Staying Silent

As rumors swirl around a possible race-day appearance by former President Donald Trump, IMS officials are staying tight-lipped.

When asked, Boles deflected, “This really is about the fans.”

It’s a subtle way of saying: no matter who’s in the stands, the real stars of the show are the 350,000 fans who make this race what it is.

The Return of Racing Glory

For IndyCar, this is more than just a ticketing milestone — it’s a comeback story. After years of fighting for audience share and rebuilding momentum post-pandemic, this sellout sends a clear message:

The Indy 500 is back. Bigger, louder, and more electric than ever.

Get Ready for May 25 — The Day Indy Becomes the Center of the Universe

• 350,000+ fans flooding Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• Indy 500 broadcast live locally and nationwide on Fox Sports
• Pacers playoff game rocking Gainbridge Fieldhouse later that night
• A city transformed into a sports and celebration megazone

This isn’t just race day. This is event immortality.

What You Need to Know:

Event: 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
Time: Green flag at 12:45 PM ET
Where to Watch: Fox Sports (LIVE in Indianapolis and nationwide)
Tickets: Limited general admission still available
Expected Attendance: 350,000+
Bonus Event: Indiana Pacers home playoff game that evening

2025’s Indy 500 Is the One You Can’t Miss

A sold-out Speedway. A city-wide sports celebration. A race broadcast live across Indiana. The 2025 Indianapolis 500 is shaping up to be one of the most unforgettable events in recent memory.

Whether you’re trackside, tailgating, or tuning in from home, one thing’s certain — this is the kind of day legends are made of.

Buckle up, Indy. Race day is almost here.