This year’s Indianapolis 500 has been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 was originally scheduled to take place on May 24. However, with the escalating situation surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, the event has been pushed back to August 23.
The Indy GP – the intended debut IndyCar event for Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin – will now be run on July 4. This will see it form part of an historic double-header featuring IndyCar and NASCAR, with the Xfinity event to be held the day after the Indy race.
Speaking with Motorsport.com, IMS owner Roger Penske said “The Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is my favorite time of year, and like our fans, I am disappointed that we have had to reschedule the Indianapolis 500.
“However, the health and safety of our event participants and spectators is our top priority, and we believe that postponing the event is the responsible decision with the conditions and restrictions we are facing.
“We will continue to focus on ways we can enhance the customer experience in the months ahead, and I’m confident we will welcome fans with a transformed facility and a global spectacle when we run the world’s greatest race.”
Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Mark Miles added: “Memorial Day weekend has always provided Indianapolis 500 fans an opportunity to honor the men and women who have fought and sacrificed for our nation’s freedom. This August, we’ll also have a unique and powerful opportunity to honor the contributions and heroism of the doctors, nurses, first responders and National Guard members serving on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
“We’re grateful for the patience of our fans as we’ve navigated this situation, and we extend our thanks to NBC for its terrific partnership and diligent work to maximize broadcast coverage with this new schedule.”
Further changes have been made to the IndyCar schedule. The Mid-Ohio and Gateway events scheduled for August 16 and 22 have now been rescheduled for August 9 and 30 respectively.