Epic countdown to 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 kicks off with action-packed Feb. 19

Epic countdown to 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 kicks off with action-packed Feb. 19

• Epic 100-day countdown kicks off in style with 24 hours of star-studded and action-packed activities celebrating the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and the stars of the Verizon IndyCar Series.
• Highlights include a late-night community celebration at IMS, proclamation ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse, Team Penske 50th anniversary event, the closing of the stock exchange in New York City and a special downtown Indianapolis gathering hosted by ESPN's Lindsay Czarniak.
• Stay tuned for more details on Feb. 19 and the entire 100-day countdown to the 100th Running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 -- The 100-day countdown to the monumental 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil will kick off with a star-studded and action-packed 24-hour celebration beginning on Feb. 19. From Indianapolis to New York City, fans will celebrate the past, present and future of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and the entire Verizon IndyCar Series.

"The 100th Running of the Indy 500 marks a monumental milestone for our sport and our nation," Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles said. "Our 100-day countdown celebration will energize fans and build unprecedented anticipation for a truly historic race and a groundbreaking Verizon IndyCar Series season."    

"I can't wait to celebrate the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 with our fans for the next 100 Days," IMS President Doug Boles said. "Feb. 19 will be an exciting and fun beginning to a memorable countdown that will be talked about for years to come. The 100th Running of the Indy 500 will be an unrivaled event that showcases our iconic legacy and sets the stage for an extremely bright future." 

Everything begins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the late hours of Thursday, Feb. 18, where fans are invited to a community celebration beginning at 9:30 p.m. in the IMS pavilion. Just before midnight, attendees will gather at the Yard of Bricks for a special countdown moment. To learn more about Midnight on the Yard of Bricks, click here.

The next morning, on Friday, Feb. 19, IMS President Doug Boles, Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Helio Castroneves, Josef Newgarden, Ed Carpenter and Matthew Brabham will join Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson for a proclamation ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse. More details about this event - including special media opportunities - will be released in the coming days.

The afternoon of Feb. 19 kicks off with a media event celebrating 50 years of Team Penske in racing and the opening of a special exhibit running through November at the IMS Hall of Fame Museum. Four-time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears will be on hand with fellow Team Penske driver and three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves to mark the occasion.

At 4 p.m., attention will shift to the financial capital of the world, with a special countdown event at the New York Stock Exchange. Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles and BorgWarner CEO James Verrier will take part in closing bell ceremonies alongside the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy.
 
Celebrations will come to a close that evening at the Crane Bay in downtown Indianapolis with a gathering celebrating the "Pursuit of Progress." The event will be hosted by ESPN SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak and will feature four-time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears, Verizon IndyCar Series Driver Marco Andretti and a full roster of guests from the wider sporting world and beyond.

A timeline of events is below. Members of the media should stay tuned for additional details and coverage opportunities regarding Feb. 19.  
 
100-day countdown kick-off timeline - Feb. 19  

Midnight on the Yard of Bricks 
9:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. (note: begins on Feb. 18) 
IMS Pavilion, Yard of Bricks 
Featuring: IndyCar driver autograph sessions, fan trivia games and midnight photo opportunity 
Note: Members of the media are invited to interview drivers, IMS leadership, event participants and capture special midnight footage. Those wishing to attend should RSVP to Suzi Elliott via selliott@brickyard.com.

Indiana Statehouse Ceremony 
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 
Indiana Statehouse atrium 
Featuring: Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Helio Castroneves, Ed Carpenter, Josef Newgarden and Matthew Brabham; Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson and IMS leadership.  
Note: Members of the media wishing to attend should RSVP to Suzi Elliott via selliott@brickyard.com. 

Team Penske 50th Anniversary Media Event and Exhibit Opening
2 p.m. 
Hall of Fame Museum at IMS 
Featuring: Four-time Indy 500 champion Rick Mears and three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves 
Note: Members of the media seeking to cover this event should email David Hovis via  David.Hovis@penskeracing.com. To learn more about the exhibit contact Ellen Bireley via ebireley@Brickyard.com. 

NYSE Closing Bell 
4 p.m. 
New York Stock Exchange 
Featuring: Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles, BorgWarner CEO James Verrier and Borg-Warner Trophy 
Note: For more information on this special activation, contact Alex Damron via adamron@brickyard.com.  

"Pursuit of Progress" Evening 
7:30 p.m. - midnight 
Crane Bay
551 W. Merrill St., downtown Indianapolis 
Featuring: ESPN's Lindsay Czarniak, Rick Mears, Verizon IndyCar Series driver Marco Andretti and more.   
Note: This is an invitation-only event. Media outlets are invited to reserve a spot on the red carpet beginning at 7:30 p.m. All media wishing to attend should RSVP to Suzi Elliott via selliott@brickyard.com.     
                                                                                       
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Tickets are now on sale for the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, Lilly Diabetes 250, the Crown Royal Presents the "Your Hero's Name Here" 400 at the Brickyard and the Red Bull Air Race. Fans have three quick, convenient methods to buy tickets:

Online: Visit www.ims.com/tickets. Tickets are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Phone: Call 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.
In Person: Visit the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at 866-221-8775 for more information. 

Information on parking and camping at IMS events is available at www.ims.com/tickets.