Indy GP traffic

Hello fello Atlas-ers ,

Can anyone who's been to the USGP at Indy a couple of times, or is a local, refresh my memory as to roughly how long it should take to drive from the track to, say, the Eastern edge of 465 in the post-race traffic?

I have a friend who's going to have to leave as soon as the race is over to head back to Cincinnati and I'm trying to help him figure how much time he has to bank on between race end and being back on I-74 making progress towards Cincy. I've been a few times, but my memory's lousy, and anyway, I've always hung around the track for a while afterward, so I'm not sure my experience is relevant anyway.

Any guidelines would help.

Cheers,

Dave

It just so happens that I attend the USGP every year and I live on the east side.

I'd say from the moment I turn the key in my car to the moment I pull into my garage its about 40 minutes. Traffic control is pretty good and I recomend to you and your friend that you enter the grounds from the 30th Street gate and they will park you either in the infield or the "North 40" for free. Thats what I do.

I think you can tell your friend that however long it takes him to drive to downtown Indianapolis on any given day to add 20 minutes to that. Its real easy to get in and out.

Thanks a bunch, ICJ.

I have a couple of follow up questions if you don't mind:

1) What's the North 40? Is that part of the infield? My concern about the infield is that my buddy will need to leave certainly before the FBMW race, and possibly a lap or two early from the F1 race if it runs right 'till 3. Will they let people leave from the infield early? My hunch is not.

2) What's the best route from the track Eastward after the race (to get to I-74 ultimately)? From looking at a map, it looks like the ideal would be to shoot up to 38th either on Moller or on Donald, and head East to pick up 65. Is that a good way? Do they typically close any of that down post-race to aid in traffic management?

Thanks again for your time.

Dave

Originally posted by xflow7
Thanks a bunch, ICJ.

I have a couple of follow up questions if you don't mind:

1) What's the North 40? Is that part of the infield? My concern about the infield is that my buddy will need to leave certainly before the FBMW race, and possibly a lap or two early from the F1 race if it runs right 'till 3. Will they let people leave from the infield early? My hunch is not.

Sorry...but your hunch is wrong. Wheather they park you in the infield or the North 40 you can leave whenever you wish. The "North 40" is a 40 acre parking lot north of the track....hence "North 40". This is land that is outside of the track but still owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Thats why parking is free there. I must tell you one thing though.....the catch for the free parking is that you do not get to decide where on the speedway grounds you park. When you pull in the gate you are under the control of the Yellow Shirts which will direct you to your parking space. This may seem like a pain in the ass, but trust me the system they have is very efficient for traffic control.

2) What's the best route from the track Eastward after the race (to get to I-74 ultimately)? From looking at a map, it looks like the ideal would be to shoot up to 38th either on Moller or on Donald, and head East to pick up 65. Is that a good way? Do they typically close any of that down post-race to aid in traffic management?

Thanks again for your time.

Dave

The traffic control they have is very good. The police will make 30th street (which is normally a 2 way street) all lanes one way east. You will get out much quicker this way and if you stay on 30th Street you can pick up I-65. From there take I-65 south to I-465 east to pick up I-74. You may be stuck in traffic for a short time on 30th Street but it won't be so bad.

Hope this helps.

Originally posted by indycarjunkie


Sorry...but your hunch is wrong.

Bah...no need to be sorry! I'm wrong a lot; used to it by now.

Hope this helps.

Yes, very helpful. Thank you.