Will Power will wear special eclipse glasses next to the Borg-Warner Trophy. Photo: IndyCar
Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar held a special event on Monday, celebrating the total solar eclipse that passed directly over the famous racetrack.
The solar eclipse, in which the moon completely obscured the sun for three minutes and 47 seconds, darkened the skies over Indianapolis shortly after 3:00 PM Eastern time, bringing joy to people of all ages.
Approximately 50,000 people attended the IMS for this once-in-a-lifetime event, with families coming from all 50 states and 33 countries around the world.
Attendees enjoyed a full day of activities, including demonstration laps around the 2.5-mile oval by Ed Carpenter in his ECR Chevy, as well as an autograph session with IndyCar drivers and NASA astronauts.
There were also guided tours of the track, atmospheric balloon launches, and the opportunity to interact with personalities from NASA TV and The Weather Channel, both broadcasting live from the location.
Although the path of the eclipse stretched across the United States from Texas to Maine, Indianapolis was one of the few metropolitan areas directly in its trajectory.
The racetrack facilities proved more than capable of accommodating the large crowd, providing IndyCar with the opportunity to attract new potential fans.
Many of the attendees were not necessarily followers of IndyCar racing, and it is estimated that 80% had never been to an event of any kind at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before.
The chance to see the facilities and witness speeds of 220 MPH firsthand in a relaxed environment may have contributed to increased ticket sales for upcoming races later this year.
The 108th edition of the Indianapolis 500 will take place in less than two months, on May 26, with several weeks of action leading up to the main event.
For those who missed the unique experience of combining a visit to IMS with a solar eclipse, tickets for the next occurrence are not yet available. The next total solar eclipse to pass over the racetrack will occur on October 17, 2153.
