A series of severe storms caused a delay in the start of the Indy 500 in Indianapolis on Sunday. These storms were part of a larger system that included tornadoes in America’s heartland the previous night. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials paused pre-race ceremonies and asked fans to evacuate the grandstands and Snake Pit at 11:15 a.m. ET.
Fans were allowed to return three hours later, with the green flag scheduled for 4:44 p.m. ET, four hours after the original start time. The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Indianapolis, including the Speedway, as children tragically lost their lives in Texas after a tornado demolished a travel stop building and hit an RV park. Fans attending the Indy 500 were encouraged to follow instructions from IMS team members to ensure their safety during the severe weather. They were asked to exit the grandstands in an orderly fashion and implement their personal safety plans.
Forecast models predicted a break in stormy weather in Indianapolis until the evening after the morning storms passed.
