SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Happy Race Day! The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is back open at full capacity for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Track Team 13 updates of events leading up to the race, including fans arriving at the track, the Snake Pit opening, red carpet appearances and pre-race traditions.
In central Indiana, NBC's broadcast will start at 7 p.m., with the green flag scheduled to wave around 8:30 p.m.
Updates
11:55 a.m. - Darius Rucker talks with Track Team 13 on the red carpet.
11:52 a.m. - Team Penske drivers head to Pit Lane.
11:47 a.m. - Drivers from Ed Carpenter Racing head to Pit Lane.
11:40 a.m. - Simon is feeling the love.
11:35 a.m. - Stand aside Top Gun, pilots from the Air Force Thunderbirds are here.
11:30 a.m. - Drivers from Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Autosport are headed out to Pit Lane.
11:13 a.m. - Country music superstar Blake Shelton is making his way out to Pit Lane as the grand marshal.
11:08 a.m. - Drivers are heading to Pit Lane for introductions.
11:03 a.m. - You're never too old to take in your first Indy 500.
10:53 a.m. - Winds keep things comfortable for fans, but they can make things difficult for the drivers.
10:50 a.m. - Check out our photos of drivers and race teams getting ready.
GALLERY: Drivers and race teams before 2022 Indy 500
10:48 a.m. - Brunch of champions?
10:45 a.m. - Indiana actor Drew Powell stopped by to talk with Track Team 13 on the red carpet.
10:40 a.m. - If drivers or fans need medical help, the staff at the IU Health Infield Care Center are ready.
10:38 a.m. - Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett talked to Chuck.
10:34 a.m. - So...someone did this...
10:30 a.m. - Darius Rucker and Chuck Lofton hanging out.
10:25 a.m. - A letter from Mr. Penske to race fans.
10:20 a.m. - We can't wait to find out who will get added.
10:17 a.m. - Yes they are!
10:15 a.m. - You had one job, Ed!
10:10 a.m. - Lookin' good!
10:03 a.m. - "The Voice" winner Girl Named Tom will perform at the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The sibling trio will perform "America the Beautiful" during pre-race ceremonies.
10:01 a.m. - Who knew?
10:00 a.m. - And a tradition is born.
9:56 a.m. - The Snake Pit never disappoints.
9:45 a.m. - Thanks you IEMS.
9:40 a.m. - The cars are heading to the grid.
9:36 a.m. - The legend himself.
9:34 a.m. - Fans are still fueling up on breakfast.
9:32 a.m. - Sage advice...listen to them.
9:31 a.m. - Things are starting to get busy on the red carpet.
9:30 a.m. - A great man, great racer and his legacy will live on...
9:28 a.m. - Celebs are starting to hit the red carpet.
9:24 a.m. - Tony Kanaan is ready for his 21st Indianapolis 500.
9:21 a.m. - Ganassi drivers are talking about their Race Day hopes.
9:20 a.m. - Gov. Holcomb has his Race Day on.
9:13 a.m. - Here's a look behind the scenes at Track Team 13.
WTHR's #TrackTeam13 broadcasts from IMS for the 2022 Indy 500
9:08 a.m. - The Speedway HS Band is back at IMS.
9:03 a.m. - There it is in all its splendor.
8:58 a.m. - You've gotta love the fashion of Race Day.
8:56 a.m. - We wish we didn't have to wait another four hours either.
8:49 a.m. - Dedicated fans...dedicated partiers...
8:39 a.m. - Love that sound!
8:30 a.m. - Felicia still has it and the Purdue All-American Marching Band is bringing it.
8:27 a.m. - Never turn down free food.
8:25 a.m. - How many bottles of hairspray did it take to tame that mane?
8:23 a.m. - Never say never...
8:22 a.m. - The milkman has arrived.
8:13 a.m. - A great day to go racing!
Check out the Race Day forecast here.
8:05 a.m. - J. R. Hildebrand's ride is already rolling out.
8:00 a.m. - Team Penske is ready to go.
7:58 a.m. - Let us know when you see them...and share pics!
7:54 a.m. - Looking like perfect weather for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
7:51 a.m. - Know your main route and all the other possible ways to get to the track.
7:48 a.m. - The calm before the storm...
7:46 a.m. - We're ready too!
7:45 a.m. - There's nothing quite like the sound of bagpipes in the morning.
7:44 a.m. - Let's fill the house.
7:42 a.m. - I wanna rock!
7:36 a.m. - It's worth the wait.
7:35 a.m. - Gonna need a lot of those today!
7:31 a.m. - We have our pick. What's yours?
7:30 a.m. - Even fans have to fuel up.
7:25 a.m. - Where are your 324,992 friends?
7:15 a.m. - The man...the myth...the legend...here we go Dave!
7:12 a.m. - He's a rookie, but I don't think anyone will be treating Jimmie Johnson like one out on the track.
7:11 a.m. - Winners drink milk!
7:08 a.m. - It's never too early to find your seats...right?
6:58 a.m. - It definitely is!
6:54 a.m. - Waking up? We've been going for hours now...
6:53 a.m. - We hear ya Josef. It is much better with a full crowd.
6:47 a.m. - That's what we like to see. Get those rides ready to go!
6:45 a.m. - Lindsey is forecast a beautiful Race Day forecast and has traffic updates for fans making their way to the track.
6:30 a.m. - The sun is up over IMS and President Doug Boles is excited to welcome all the fans back to the oval.
6:29 a.m. - Simon says...
6:25 a.m. - While the earliest fans made their way into the track as gates opened, many are still trying to make their way in. Traffic on Georgetown Road is backed up to 38th Street.
6:15 a.m. - Fans are filing into the infield after IMS gates open.
6 a.m. - Gates are open! Fans are headed into IMS. More than 300,000 are expected as the track returns to full capacity for the first time since 2019.
5:35 a.m. - Fans continue to line up at the gates. The Campbells from Lima, Ohio, left home at midnight to be the first in line at one gate.
5:15 a.m. - Gates open to fans at 6 a.m., but Gate 1 is getting ready!
5 a.m. - Tune into Channel 13 for WTHR's live pre-race coverage NOW!
4:50 a.m. - Race fans are getting an early start to the day. The line to get into the main gate of IMS is about a mile long.
It's quiet so far from the Snake Pit. The Turn 3 concert site opens at 7 a.m.
4:45 a.m. - We're set for a beautiful day in Indianapolis. We'll have a comfortable start in the upper 50s with a sunny and breezy afternoon in the mid-80s.
RELATED: Live Doppler 13 forecast
