There are many different car racing events happening all over the world. One of the oldest and most popular is the Indianapolis 500 or known as the Indy 500. Due to the longevity of this car racing event, lots of traditions surrounding the race have developed over the years. It includes procedures for the running of the race, scheduling, and as well as pre-race and post-race activities. And for the fans of the event, these traditions are very important, and they’d react negatively if these traditions would be changed or broken.
If you are looking forward to going to Indy 500 to watch the race, then you’ll need to arrive early because more than 300,000 people are going to the same location as you. Gates usually open as early as 6am, but the race starts in the afternoon. That would be quite a while to wait, right? But it’s better than being stuck in traffic and finding it difficult to find your seats.
If you’re wondering what you can do while waiting for the race to start when you arrive early, then you’re in the right place. It’s because today, we are giving you 10 fun things to do while waiting for the big race. You can also apply some of these tips to other car racing events.
1. Place your bets.
Today, there’s also gambling associated with different sports, just like what online sports betting in PA offers. And these sports also include car racing bets. There are many different types of betting that you can try, and it is one of the fun things you can do as you wait for the big race. You can bet on a specific driver to finish in the top 3 of the races, or you can bet on a car driver to win a particular race. This is an exciting and energizing thing to do because it will enable you to put down bets on popular motorsport occasions.
2. Play some fun fantasy INDYCAR game.
If you are tailgating with some of your friends or family, you can pass some time by playing a fun game that will surely leave all of you with a driver to root for throughout the 500 miles. What you need to do is to get a couple copies of the IndyStar Race Day Newspaper. Then, cut out the photos of the 33 drivers there and fold them up and put them in a hat or bowl. You can have each member in your group pick a driver out. Whoever will have the winning driver will get bragging rights. The person that will have the best finishing average will win this game.
3. Take photos of the venue with your friends and family.
Attending a car racing event can be an exciting and memorable day for most people, especially for first-timers. In fact, it can also be a once in a lifetime experience for some. Therefore, as you wait for the race to start, you can spend time taking photos of the place with your friends and family. Maybe you can also spot the cars that will be participating in the race and take a photo of them, as well. In time, you’ll be able to see those photos and reminisce about the exciting day you had while watching the race.
4. Enjoy the foodat the venue.
While waiting for the big race to start, you can also check out some of the foods available around the venue. Maybe you can enjoy some nachos, milkshakes, biscuits, burgers, hotdogs, and more together with your friends and family. Eating good foods is one of the most enjoyable things you can do while waiting, not just for the race to start, but for anything.
5. Have a drink with your friends and family.
You can bring your own drinks when watching the Indy 500 race. This means that while waiting for the race to start, you can enjoy over a few drinks with your friends. But keep in mind that they have rules when it comes to bringing in beverages. All drinks, whether they are alcoholic or not, should be in aluminum cans or bottles. Even hard liquor should be placed in plastic bottles, and no glass containers are allowed. You can also bring coolers to keep your drinks cold, but only smaller ones are allowed inside the venue.
6. Read the IndyStar Race Day Newspaper
In the morning of the race, you can also read the IndyStar Race Day Newspaper as it includes the starting lineup of the race. This will enable you to know who is going to be in the race and which car they are driving.
7. Stream the INDYCAR Radio broadcast on your phone.
While having some drinks with your friends and family, you can also listen to the INDYCAR Radio Broadcast on your phone, which can be found on the IndyCar mobile app. If you do not have the app, you can also tune into local coverage on some radio stations. This will keep you updated on what’s happening at the eventsince you can’t see all the way around the track.
8. Rent a handheld scanner.
If you have some money to spend, then you can rend a handheld scanner in the event. Instead of listening to the radio, this will enable you to listen to the drivers and their teams talk back and forth throughout the event. This is even more fun when the race starts as you’ll be able to hear the racers’ voices while driving, and their reactions when something goes wrong.
9. Check out some souvenirs you can buy.
While waiting for the race to start, you can also visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Trackside Gift Shop and see what racing souvenirs they are offering there. You can find there lots of racing merchandise that you can add to your collection or maybe give to your loved ones, like shirts, hats, keychains, stickers, and more.
10. Socialize with the people at the venue.
Socializing with people is also a fun thing to do while waiting for the big race to start. You can talk to other audiences about the race, who they are rooting for, or if they watch regularly, and more. You can also talk about the other racing events they’ve been into and their most favorite. This is also a great way to meet new people and earn friends who have the same interest as you do.
These are some of the fun things you can do while waiting for the big race. Watching a big racing event like the Indy 500 is indeed very exciting. It is also one of the most memorable events, especially for people who are big fans of car racing.