Indianapolis 500 traditions


Due to the longevity of the Indianapolis 500, numerous traditions surrounding the race have developed over the years. Traditions include procedures for the running of the race, scheduling, and pre-race and post-race festivities. For many fans, these traditions are an important aspect of the race, and they have often reacted quite negatively when the traditions are changed or broken.
As part of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the pre-race ceremonies of the Indianapolis 500 feature several patriotic songs. Like most other sporting events, the national anthem is performed before the race by a notable vocalist. The most noteworthy and most popular traditions are the annual singing of the chorus of "Back Home Again in Indiana," and the victory lane bottle of milk.

Month of May

The two to three weeks of practice and qualifying leading up to the Indianapolis 500 is known in racing circles simply as "the month of May ". In early years, the track traditionally opened for practice on May 1. This practice dated back to 1911. The policy was typically to make the track available for practice no later than May 1, although in most years, few if any competitors might be on the grounds yet. It was not uncommon for local entries to begin setting up in the garage area in early/mid-April to work on their cars. Out-of-town or overseas entries sometimes arrived in Indianapolis and set up shop in a local garage before moving into the track. In some years, the track might even be available for practice and testing as early as mid-April. For instance, in 1932, cars began to arrive on April 6, and in 1969, the first day of practice was April 28. In very early years, it was not uncommon for the track to be closed on Sundays during practice, or be open for only competitors with the gates closed to the public. In 1974, due to the energy crisis, the schedule was reduced, and the track opened instead three weeks before race day. The change was well-received, and the new schedule was made permanent, with various tweaks over the years.
In 2014, a second race at Indianapolis was introduced to the IndyCar Series schedule, conducted on the track's road course. The new event is held two weeks before the 500.
Though not part of the month of May, since the mid-2010s, Founders Day has been recognized and celebrated at the Speedway each year on March 20. That coincides with the date in 1909 in which the Speedway was incorporated. Since 2017, Founders Day has sometimes been used to announce inductees of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, with the formal induction taking place during the month of May.

Memorial Day

The race has always been scheduled in conjunction with Memorial Day. Through 1970, the race was held on Memorial Day proper, regardless of the day of the week, unless it fell on Sunday. In those cases, it was scheduled for Monday, May 31. After the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect in 1971, the race was scheduled as part of the three-day Memorial Day weekend – either the Saturday, the Sunday, or the Monday of the holiday weekend. Since 1974, the race has been scheduled for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and has been held on a Sunday with only two exceptions due to rain delays. The race is often held on the same day as Formula One's Monaco Grand Prix and the NASCAR Cup Series's Coca-Cola 600, making for one of the largest weekends in motor racing.
Sundays were avoided for scheduling race activity dating back to pre-500 races in 1909 and 1910. In the early decades, Sundays were occasionally used for practice and/or qualifying, but were used sparingly in pre-World War II years. In some early years, practice may have been permitted on Sundays, but the gates might not be open to the public. When Tony Hulman bought the Speedway after World War II, Speedway management continued to refuse to schedule the race on a Sunday, a policy that stayed in place through 1973. Qualifying and practice, however, were regularly held on Sundays during those years, with no days closed to spectators.
  • From 1911 to 1970, the race was scheduled for May 30, regardless of the day of the week. If May 30 fell on a Sunday, the race was scheduled for Monday, May 31.
  • *For the first 500 in 1911, May 30 fell on a Tuesday.
  • *In 1915, May 30 fell on a Sunday, and the race was initially scheduled for Saturday, May 29. Heavy rains fell in the days leading up to the race flooding the grounds and making some dirt roads leading to the track impassible. A few days before the race was to be held, officials decided to postpone the race until Monday, May 31, in order to allow time for the grounds to dry out.
  • *In 1919, the race was held on Saturday, May 31. It was first race after the conclusion of World War I. The race was deliberately moved off Memorial Day and pushed to Saturday so as not to detract from the holiday.
  • *May 30 fell on Sunday in 1920, 1926, 1937, 1948, 1954, and 1965. In each of those years, the race was held on Monday, May 31.
  • *The final race under that scheduling format was on Saturday, May 30.
  • In 1971 and 1972, the race was scheduled for and held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
  • In 1973, the race was scheduled for Memorial Day Monday. The change was made after requests from spectators, many complaining that it was inconvenient to the many people who had to work on Saturdays. In addition, it allowed the popular 500 Festival Parade to run downtown during the daytime, rather than as the night parade it had been forced to be for years. Despite the change, rain and accidents delayed the race until Wednesday.
  • Since 1974, the race has been scheduled for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.
  • In case of a rainout on Sunday, the race will be rescheduled for the following day, Monday – the Memorial Day federal holiday. Monday is the prioritized make-up date. However, if it rains again on Monday, the race will be shifted to the next available day.
  • The 1986 race was scheduled for Sunday, May 25, but was rained out on both Sunday and Monday. It was postponed to the following weekend and held on Saturday, May 31.
  • The 1997 race was scheduled for Sunday, May 25, but rain washed out the day. The race began the next day, on Memorial Day, but rain showers moved back into the area. The race was halted after 15 laps and could not be restarted. Short of the 101 laps needed for an official race, track officials elected to resume the race on the following day. The race was run to completion, as laps 16–200 were completed on Tuesday.
  • The 2020 race was scheduled for Sunday, May 24, but due to the global pandemic, was rescheduled for Sunday, August 23 in an attempt to allow spectators.
Armed Forces Day also falls during the month of May and usually coincides with one of the weekends of time trials. Since 1978 at the Speedway, that weekend is often filled with activities honoring the U.S. military, including an oath of enlistment ceremony.

Days and dates

Practice and qualifying

  • Opening Day: The first day of practice is traditionally referred to as "Opening Day". From 1911 to 1973, Opening day was traditionally May 1, although oftentimes the track was made available for practice much earlier than that date. The day is usually marked with festivities and for many years was popularly attended. In some years when May 1 fell mid-week, or if weather interfered, the activity would be light and the formal ceremonies would be held on the first Saturday of the month. Since 1974, the "Opening Day" practice session has been scheduled either three weeks or two weeks prior to race day. The battle to be the First Driver on the Track for the month was a spectacle of Opening Day for many years. Teams and drivers would battle to get their cars prepped and cranked up as soon as officials opened the track, hoping to be the first car to leave the pits, and likewise the first car to complete a practice lap for the month. The effort usually attracted the attention of the smaller teams, as it was seen as a way to draw headlines for the day. The race to be first on the track was usually friendly, although in some years it became heated, drawing the ire of the officials. For a time, it became a tradition that the cars of the Bryant Heating & Cooling Team, and later Dick Simon Racing, were usually the first cars on the track. In recent years, Opening Day might include separate sessions for Rookie Orientation and Refresher tests, proceeding or following a full-field, veteran driver practice session. One of the long-standing traditions of Opening Day is the ceremonial handing over of the keys to the pace car from the manufacturer to the track officials.
  • Rookie Orientation Program: Starting in 1936 all rookies were required to take a rookie test prior to being allowed to compete. The test traditionally consists of multiple phases, each increasing in speed, under the close observation of officials, driver coaches, and both current and former IndyCar Series drivers. Rookie drivers are required to exhibit adequate car control and proper driving lines, among other requirements. After several decades of conducting the tests during normal session of practice, officials decided to organize the sessions. Since 1981, the Rookie Orientation Program has been held in April or early May. The program allows newcomers the opportunity to take their first laps at the Speedway and acclimate themselves to the circuit in a relaxed environment. It would be held without the pressure of veteran drivers crowding the track, without the distraction of spectators, and with minimal media coverage. Currently, drivers can complete all phases of their rookie tests during ROP if conditions allow. The ROP has traditionally been held prior to opening day, however, in some years it served as opening day. Drivers with exceptional driving experience at high levels of motorsports can occasionally receive waivers for participation in ROP, but must still pass their rookie test at a later date before they can practice during normal sessions.
  • Refresher Tests: In addition to Rookie Orientation Program, veteran Indy 500 drivers who have not been behind the wheel of a race car for a considerable amount of time, as determined by the officials, may be required to complete a refresher test prior to competing. Currently the "Refresher Test" consists of the final two phases of the aforementioned rookie test, and it is used to re-acclimate drivers to Indy car racing and the Speedway. Refresher test participants usually are drivers that have not driven in an Indy car, particularly on an oval superspeedway, since the previous year's Indy 500. This usually applies to part-time drivers and drivers who have been away from the sport for an extended period of time. Full-time drivers in the IndyCar Series are almost universally exempt from taking refresher tests. Track time for refresher tests is usually offered during the Rookie Orientation Program, but they can also be completed on regular practice days unless they did not participate at Indianapolis or another superspeedway the previous year.
File:Pit stop competition.jpg|thumbnail|Scott Dixon goes up against Sage Karam during the Pit Stop Challenge at the 2019 Carb Day
  • Practice: Since the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911, the track has been opened for practice early in the month for competitors. Through 1973, it was a tradition that the track was made available for practice beginning on May 1. In some years the track opened as early as mid-April. In 1974, the schedule was cut back to three weeks prior to race day. Since 2010, the track typically opens for practice about two weeks before race day. In the early years, practice began each day as early as 9:00 a.m., but in modern times, the track typically opens at 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. Traditionally, the track closes at 6:00 p.m. During the USAC years, the 6 p.m. close was a hard deadline, but more recent years, if weather delays the start of practice on a particular day, IndyCar officials may extend the session beyond 6 p.m., to make up for some lost track time.
  • Happy Hour: The final hour of practice and qualifying each day is referred to as "Happy Hour". Due to the large double-deck grandstands on the front stretch, large shadows are cast over a good portion of the track, cooling the asphalt surface. A lower ambient air temperature, along with a lower track surface temperature, usually translates into faster speeds. Since Indiana began observing Daylight Saving Time in 2006, this phenomenon has been somewhat diminished.
  • Fast Friday: The final practice session before pole day qualifying is nicknamed "Fast Friday". The fastest speeds of the month are commonly observed on Fast Friday, as teams and drivers make their final preparations and look for final "bragging rights" before the run for the pole position. Since the current engine formula was adopted in 2012, elevated turbocharger "boost" levels have been permitted on Fast Friday, reflecting the increased level allowed during time trials. Drivers who have been "sandbagging" during the week may choose to reveal their speed, in an effort to distance themselves from the competition. Sometimes the speeds turned in on Fast Friday are overachieved by the respective drivers' due to a tow. Though "Fast Friday" has been a fixture since the 1950s–1960s, the nickname was not coined until about 1996. Track records set on Fast Friday are considered unofficial. The sanctioning body only recognizes speeds set during the officially competitive sessions of qualifying and the race.
  • Pole Day: The first day of time trials traditionally was referred to as "Pole Day". The fastest qualifier on pole day wins the highly coveted pole position. Over the years, the "race for the pole" was often regarded as a race in itself, a speed contest, and was advertised as the second-largest single day sporting event. Though crowds have diminished for pole day as of late, and rules changes have curtailed speeds, the nickname "The Fastest Day in Motorsports" is still sometimes used. Since 2014, a special two-day format has been utilized for time trials, and the pole position is actually not determined until the conclusion of the second day. The term "pole day" is still widely used, however, to reference the second day in particular.
  • Bump Day: The final day of qualifying, when the final starting field is set, is traditionally known as "Bump Day". Drivers who are removed from the starting grid of 33 by being out-qualified by faster cars are said to have been "bumped". The driver with the slowest speed in the field of 33, the first in line to be bumped, is said to be "on the bubble". Unqualified drivers attempt to bump their way into the field and "burst the slower driver's bubble". Prior to World War II, the term typically used for drivers being knocked out of the field was "crowded out". Since the early 2000s, smaller entry lists have led to fewer cars, or even zero cars, being bumped from the starting grid. With the adoption of a special two-day qualifying format in 2014, the bumping procedure from 2014 to 2018 actually would occur on the first day of time trials. As such, the term "Bump Day" disappeared from use for a few years. In 2018, the term "Bump Day" was brought back, and was used as the nickname for the first day of time trials. Beginning in 2019, the bumping procedure returns to the second day of time trials.
  • Post-qualifying practice: Beginning in 2014, an additional practice session has been scheduled on the Monday after qualifying, and starting in 2019, after Pole Day qualifying, primarily for the cars starting 10-30. After schedule overhauls, as well as a substantial format changes for qualifying, this session is utilized specifically for race practice, particularly multi-car "group" practice. This practice session has proven to be frenzied and aggressive, simulating race conditions. Previously teams would utilize weekdays, and very often, loosely utilize the down times of the final day of time trials for such practice. Due to the format changes of time trials, adequate time is no longer available to practice during down times on the last day of time trials due to the lengthy post-qualifying technical inspection, and the general lateness of the day that the starting grid is finalized. This extra practice period is also sometimes used by teams to reach maximum mileage for engines, as they install a fresh engine for Carb Day and race day. Under current INDYCAR rules, an engine must reach 2,550 miles during the season in order to be eligible for a fresh engine.
  • Freedom 100: The Indy Lights developmental support series began holding a support race, the Freedom 100, during the month of May in 2003. For the first two years, it was held on the second weekend of time trials. In 2005, it was moved to Carb Day. Practice and qualifying for the Freedom 100 is held at some point during the week. The Freedom 100 was taken off the schedule in 2020, and it currently on hiatus.
  • Carb Day: The final practice session before the race, currently held on the Friday before race day, is called "Carburetion Day". The name originally came from the fact that it was the final session where teams could tune their carburetors in conditions similar to those that might be encountered on race day. The name has remained despite the fact that no qualified car has used a carburetor since 1963. The day is now similar to most motorsport weekends, as the final practice is accompanied by a pit stop contest, a support race, and a concert. The Pit Stop Challenge debuted in 1977, the Indy Lights Freedom 100 moved to Carb Day in 2005, and the concerts have been held since 1998. In 1969–1972, Carb Day was held the Wednesday before the race. From 1973 to 2004, Carb Day was held the Thursday before the race. It was moved to Friday before the race beginning in 2005, at which time the Indy Lights race was moved to that day. Prior to 1969, Carb Day was not on a fixed day of the week, instead it was simply scheduled for a nondescript day midway between the final day of time trials and race day, and was sometimes closed to the public. Particularly with the advent of the sometimes aggressive Post-Qualifying Monday practice, the Carb Day practice session is typically disciplined and relatively tame. The objectives of the teams might be to conduct basic leak-checks, and/or other minute, last-minute adjustments, but refraining from aggressive driving and avoiding incidents. In case of inclement weather, the Carb Day practice is usually cancelled without being rescheduled.