![Thunderstorms delay start of Indy 500 [Updated]](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-05_72.jpg)
[14:45 Update] The rain has now stopped at IMS, and track drying efforts are currently underway at 14:45 eastern time (19:45 BST). IMS President Doug Boles has just stated that he expects track drying to be completed in two hours. There will be pre-race ceremonies, including the military flyover, and it is expected the entire 500 miles will be completed today.
The 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 was set to get started at 12:45 eastern time, but that has been put on hold due to storms rolling through the area at just the wrong time.
The weather front that is disrupting the event had been forecast for most of the week leading up to the race, and it has unfortunately played out as predicted.
Rain and lightning is approaching quickly from the west and is set to reach the Indianapolis Motor Speedway just as the race would have been getting under way.
An announcement rang out to all the loudspeakers around the facility just after 11:00 local time warning fans to take shelter from the lightning underneath the grandstands.
The lengthy pre-race ceremonies had already been delayed, with teams having been told to leave cars in the garage area longer than usual.
The garage area is where the cars will stay until the front clears the area, and the 125,000 fans that already entered the track are being allowed to leave the track if needed to find shelter.
The hope is that the storms will move through quickly and will allow track drying to commence in the 3:00 hour.
IndyCar has arranged to have a fleet of NASCAR’s Air Titan track drying vehicles on site this weekend, which should shorten the track drying time from 2.5 hours to roughly 1.5 hours.
As many of the pre-race ceremonies as possible will be conducted later in the afternoon in an attempt to provide the full experience to paying fans.
If at least half of the scheduled 200 laps cannot be completed on Sunday, then the remainder of the race will have to be run Monday afternoon.
IndyCar will do everything in its power to prevent that outcome, however, and will endeavor to have the winner of the race declared on Sunday if possible.
This page will be updated as more information is known about the start time of the Indy 500.
