INDIANAPOLIS — We are counting down until the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Tickets are now on sale to witness the phenomenon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. General admission tickets are $20 per person and include gate admission, infield parking and a pair of limited-edition solar eclipse glasses: "The Greatest Spectacles."
Kids 18 and under are admitted free with a paying adult and will also get a pair of limited-edition solar eclipse glasses.
Three-day camping packages from April 6-9 in Lot 2 start at $125.
Click here to purchase tickets.
“More than 75% of ticket buyers for the solar eclipse are visiting IMS for the first time,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “We have a full day of fun and educational activities planned to welcome both new and old fans to the Racing Capital of the World. Arrive early, plan for traffic, bring your cooler and be prepared for an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Organizers are expecting 35,000 to 50,000 people at IMS on Monday.
Tickets have been purchased from 49 states, Washington, D.C., and more than 21 other countries and territories.
Here is the planned schedule:
- 9 a.m.: Gates open; Gates 2, 3 and 6
- 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Educational programming
- 1 p.m.: NASA broadcast begins
- 1:10 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
- 1:35 p.m.: INDYCAR SERIES demo laps from three-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner Ed Carpenter
- 1:50:34 p.m.: Solar eclipse begins with partial
- 2:15 p.m.: Frontstretch of oval track opens for guest viewing
- 3:06:04 p.m.: Totality begins
- 3:07:59 p.m.: Max totality
- 3:09:54 p.m.: Totality ends
- 3:25 p.m.: Closing ceremonies
- 3:30 p.m.: Astronaut and driver autograph session
- 4 p.m.: Gates close
- 4:23:13 p.m.: Partial ends
- 4:30 p.m.: NASA broadcast concludes
A total solar eclipse — known as the "Great North American Eclipse" — will trace a narrow path of totality across 13 U.S. states. When the total solar eclipse crosses North America, Indianapolis will be located in the center of the path of totality.
For 3 minutes, 46 seconds, Indianapolis will experience darkness as the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun.
This will be the first time in 819 years that a total solar eclipse will be visible in Indianapolis — and it will be another 129 years before it happens again.
IMS will be the host of one of several NASA broadcast sites across the nation.
Purdue University is a presenting sponsor for the IMS event and will feature Boilermaker experts, alumni, students and more. There will also be educational STEM opportunities, exclusive merchandise and programming centered around racing and space discovery throughout the day.
Special guests in attendance at IMS will include Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Mark and Rick Armstrong, the sons of Purdue graduate and first man on the moon Neil Armstrong. Multiple astronauts and NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers also will be in attendance.