INDIANAPOLIS — The start of the Indy 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
The video boards inside the speedway flashed that a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect as the storm approached from the west. Along with heavy rain, the storm brought wind gusts up to 45 mph and dangerous lightning.
It was unclear how long the delay would last, but speedway president J. Douglas Boles said the hope was for a window after the initial band of rain that would allow enough time to dry the track and complete at least 101 laps, making the race official.
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