| WATCHING ROAD COURSE RACES at IMS |
| CHOOSING ROAD COURSE SEATS |
Reserved Seats in the Stands
| IMS Road Course Seating Map |
Most fans want to see the the twisties, but if you don't care about that, the
Paddock, Pit Road Terrace and Tower Terrace allow you to witness pit
stops and the finish line. Note: Pit Road Terrace is low.
Sitting in the corners of the oval provide the widest views of the course, but
are far away from the action compared to the Viewing Hills. Stand H and
the South Vista allow you to see the curvy portions and sit a bit closer to
the track.
Watching the race from one location is the tendency of most fans,
particularly if they are sitting in the grandstands outside the track.
If you don't mind doing some walking, you might enjoy trying different viewing
hills between races, or during a race itself. As you stroll along the course,
you can take a seat on the hill when you feel like it. If you've set up chairs or
blankets in one location, you can leave them there and return later.
Paddock, Pit Road Terrace and Tower Terrace allow you to witness pit
stops and the finish line. Note: Pit Road Terrace is low.
Sitting in the corners of the oval provide the widest views of the course, but
are far away from the action compared to the Viewing Hills. Stand H and
the South Vista allow you to see the curvy portions and sit a bit closer to
the track.
Watching the race from one location is the tendency of most fans,
particularly if they are sitting in the grandstands outside the track.
If you don't mind doing some walking, you might enjoy trying different viewing
hills between races, or during a race itself. As you stroll along the course,
you can take a seat on the hill when you feel like it. If you've set up chairs or
blankets in one location, you can leave them there and return later.
You can sit higher and get a wider view of the course, but are further away from the action.
You have access to normal restrooms and IMS concession stands.
Huge monitors allow you to follow the race.
Tickets cost more.
You have access to normal restrooms and IMS concession stands.
Huge monitors allow you to follow the race.
Tickets cost more.
You are closer to the track which is exciting
You have to use portolets
Independent food stands
Small monitors along the fence allow you to follow the race.
You have to use portolets
Independent food stands
Small monitors along the fence allow you to follow the race.
You can only use lawn chairs along the top of a hill.
On popular race days, those spots are taken early and
you might have to sit on the ground on the inclined
portion of a hill.
I bought a chair at Dick's Sporting Goods made for use
on an incline. It has two adjustable straps - one for
adjusting the chair to the incline, and the other to adjust
the angle of the back of the chair for comfort.
It sits very low to the ground so you won't be blocking
anyone behind you who is sitting on the ground.
It works well. I also use it at outdoor concerts that have
hills.
I paid $40 for mine.
On popular race days, those spots are taken early and
you might have to sit on the ground on the inclined
portion of a hill.
I bought a chair at Dick's Sporting Goods made for use
on an incline. It has two adjustable straps - one for
adjusting the chair to the incline, and the other to adjust
the angle of the back of the chair for comfort.
It sits very low to the ground so you won't be blocking
anyone behind you who is sitting on the ground.
It works well. I also use it at outdoor concerts that have
hills.
I paid $40 for mine.
I do not know what these guys
are sitting on, but they look
comfortable.
Maybe too comfortable!
are sitting on, but they look
comfortable.
Maybe too comfortable!
| Video of Start of 2016 Grand Prix of Indianapolis Shot from the viewing hill in Turn 1. |
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General Admission - Viewing Hills
PARKING FOR GENERAL ADMISSION
Should you park in the infield or in parking lots outside the track?
There are two distinct areas of the infield viewing hills, divided by a
pedestrian crossing bridge, which funnels people between the East
Viewing Hills and the other viewing hills.
If you plan to spend the entire day on the East Viewing Hills, parking in
the Turn 3 Infield Lot is a no-brainer because it is so close. For instance
it is possible to pull in and park, then walk 100 yards and sit on a hill to
watch the race. Just about everyone else has to walk much further to get
to their seats - the lucky ones a half mile.
However, there is nothing else on that side of the pedestrian bridge,
except for a few small food stands and portalets. If you are unable to
climb stairs, you will be stuck on the east side of the road course if you
park in Turn 3.
If you plan to visit souvenir stands, the museum, Gasoline Alley or the
Pagoda Plaza, you will have to cross the pedestrian bridge. On the map
above, you can see where that bridge is.
If you plan to sit on the West Viewing Hills, you could save walking
distance from your car if you can park outside the track close to Gate 7,
such as Lot 6. (There is a tunnel that goes under the track at Gate 7
which pops you out very close to those hills.)
If you plan to sit in the Pit Road Terrace, there is another tunnel at Gate 6
which will pop you out next to the Pagoda by the Pit Road Terrace. Lot 2
is the closest parking area for Gate 6.
Should you park in the infield or in parking lots outside the track?
There are two distinct areas of the infield viewing hills, divided by a
pedestrian crossing bridge, which funnels people between the East
Viewing Hills and the other viewing hills.
If you plan to spend the entire day on the East Viewing Hills, parking in
the Turn 3 Infield Lot is a no-brainer because it is so close. For instance
it is possible to pull in and park, then walk 100 yards and sit on a hill to
watch the race. Just about everyone else has to walk much further to get
to their seats - the lucky ones a half mile.
However, there is nothing else on that side of the pedestrian bridge,
except for a few small food stands and portalets. If you are unable to
climb stairs, you will be stuck on the east side of the road course if you
park in Turn 3.
If you plan to visit souvenir stands, the museum, Gasoline Alley or the
Pagoda Plaza, you will have to cross the pedestrian bridge. On the map
above, you can see where that bridge is.
If you plan to sit on the West Viewing Hills, you could save walking
distance from your car if you can park outside the track close to Gate 7,
such as Lot 6. (There is a tunnel that goes under the track at Gate 7
which pops you out very close to those hills.)
If you plan to sit in the Pit Road Terrace, there is another tunnel at Gate 6
which will pop you out next to the Pagoda by the Pit Road Terrace. Lot 2
is the closest parking area for Gate 6.
* The dark blue indicates the grandstand seats available for the 2026 IndyCar Grand Prix.
The stands open for other road course races vary.
The stands open for other road course races vary.
Video - Start of 2020 IndyCar Race from Stand H, Section 24, Row V
TURN 1
from the Infield
from the Infield
The viewing hill on the inside of Turn 1 is popular as well. It can be so crowded that
everyone stands though. In that case, you can watch the start there, then find
elsewhere to sit.
everyone stands though. In that case, you can watch the start there, then find
elsewhere to sit.
While the IMS road course uses much of the oval track's front straight and a small
section of the south short chute, the rest of the course lies inside the 2.5 mile oval track.
Only specific grandstands, or parts of grandstands, are open for road course races.
Unlike the oval races, the Infield can provide good viewing opportunities from various
grassy hills scattered around the course.
Race cars run the course clockwise - the opposite of the Indy 500.
section of the south short chute, the rest of the course lies inside the 2.5 mile oval track.
Only specific grandstands, or parts of grandstands, are open for road course races.
Unlike the oval races, the Infield can provide good viewing opportunities from various
grassy hills scattered around the course.
Race cars run the course clockwise - the opposite of the Indy 500.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GRANDSTANDS AND INFIELD:
Two stands are close to the track: Stand H and South Vista.
General Admission also allows you to sit in the Pit Road Terrace.
This stand is similar to the Paddock and Tower Terrace seats where you don't see
the curvy portions of the course, but you can see Pit Stops and the Start/Finish Line.
General Admission also allows you to sit in the Pit Road Terrace.
This stand is similar to the Paddock and Tower Terrace seats where you don't see
the curvy portions of the course, but you can see Pit Stops and the Start/Finish Line.
Exceptions
Passing usually happens at the end of a straight.
The most incidents probably occur at Turn 1. From their highest speed, the cars
must brake hard for the sharp right-hander into the infield portion of the course.
Collisions often occur there, particularly on the first lap.
Other times, drivers realize they are going too fast and continue straight, missing
Turn 1. In this case, they have to slow down to maneuver past a concrete chicane
before taking an access road back onto the track where they re-enter the course
just before Turn 3.
Consequently, Turn 1 is the most popular place to watch the race. You can see
Turn 1 from a Viewing Hill in the infield, or in the stands that line the outside of the
track.
The best grandstands to watch Turn 1 are Stand H and Stand J.
The most incidents probably occur at Turn 1. From their highest speed, the cars
must brake hard for the sharp right-hander into the infield portion of the course.
Collisions often occur there, particularly on the first lap.
Other times, drivers realize they are going too fast and continue straight, missing
Turn 1. In this case, they have to slow down to maneuver past a concrete chicane
before taking an access road back onto the track where they re-enter the course
just before Turn 3.
Consequently, Turn 1 is the most popular place to watch the race. You can see
Turn 1 from a Viewing Hill in the infield, or in the stands that line the outside of the
track.
The best grandstands to watch Turn 1 are Stand H and Stand J.
Turn 7 is at the end of the other straightaway and is also an exciting area of the
track. There is no grandstand to see this corner, only a grassy hill inside the turn
that is part of the East Viewing Hills.
track. There is no grandstand to see this corner, only a grassy hill inside the turn
that is part of the East Viewing Hills.
VIEWING HILLS - EAST VS. WEST
There are two distinct areas of the infield viewing hills - The East and the West.
There is a pedestrian crossing bridge which separates them. (See map above.)
There is no other place to cross from one side of the course to the other.
The only things in the eastern area are some viewing hills, portalets and
independent food carts.
If you are concerned about how much walking you will be doing during your visit,
you should consider where you plan to sit and what you want to see before
deciding whether to park in the Turn 3 Infield. I explain this more in the Parking
Section below.
People that use walkers or wheelchairs will not be able to use the pedestrian
crossing bridge.
Note: When a road course race weekend is not taking place, the back straight
becomes a sidewalk that runs alongside Hulman Blvd and is not blocked off by
fencing. This means that the pedestrian crossing bridge is not used during the
Brickyard 400 or the Indy 500.
There is a pedestrian crossing bridge which separates them. (See map above.)
There is no other place to cross from one side of the course to the other.
The only things in the eastern area are some viewing hills, portalets and
independent food carts.
If you are concerned about how much walking you will be doing during your visit,
you should consider where you plan to sit and what you want to see before
deciding whether to park in the Turn 3 Infield. I explain this more in the Parking
Section below.
People that use walkers or wheelchairs will not be able to use the pedestrian
crossing bridge.
Note: When a road course race weekend is not taking place, the back straight
becomes a sidewalk that runs alongside Hulman Blvd and is not blocked off by
fencing. This means that the pedestrian crossing bridge is not used during the
Brickyard 400 or the Indy 500.
| PEDESTRIAN CROSSING BRIDGE |
GCI Outdoor Everywhere Portable Folding Hillside Chair
| TURN 7 2025 Sonsio Grand Prix |
Stand E is another popular place to watch the race, with views of Turns 12-14,
the pit lane entrance and the main straight.
Below are photos I took from E Penthouse during a 2022 Indy Pro 2000 race.
the pit lane entrance and the main straight.
Below are photos I took from E Penthouse during a 2022 Indy Pro 2000 race.
Aerial View of South Vista and Turn 12 during the 2025 Sonsio Grand Prix -
