Indianapolis Motor Speedway has issued a statement recognising the guidelines handed out by the CDC, but insists efforts will continue to stage the Indy 500 on schedule.
On Sunday, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) issued new guidelines, recommending gatherings of more than 50 people be cancelled or postponed across the United States for the next eight weeks, due to the worldwide Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
With the first four races of the NTT IndyCar Series schedule either cancelled or postponed, the current first round is set to be the GMR IndyCar Grand Prix on May 9 – which currently falls inside the eight-week window.
First practice for the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 is set to take place on May 12, with the main event itself on May 24.
IMS has insisted preparations for the Indy 500 will continue as normal as possible in-line with the guidelines issued, and the situation will be continuously monitored.
Should the event not go ahead, it would be a first during peacetime that the prestigious race will not have taken place.
“We are aware of the CDC’s interim guidance suggesting the postponement of events involving more than 50 people over the next eight weeks,” read the statement from IMS.
“Our priority is to do our part in protecting the public health while still conducting the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge as scheduled on May 24.
“This continues to be a dynamic situation which we are monitoring constantly in coordination with federal, state, local and public health officials.
“We are planning for all contingencies and will be prepared to run the GMR Grand Prix and Indy 500 as the COVID-19 situation permits.”
