Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, May 27, 2016
(SPEEDWAY) - The millions of dollars of renovations to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway isn’t all that will be new to fans this weekend for the 100th running of the Indy 500.
Security and safety have been increased to levels never seen before.
The first difference fans will notice is that it will likely take considerably longer to get down roads like 16th Street, Georgetown Road, and 30th Street. Part of that is because of the huge crowd. The other part: the new security features designed to keep all those people safe.
IMS President Doug Boles says it's important for those attending to come early and be very patient. With all of the new security features, fans are being advised to arrive at the track at least two hours earlier than they have in previous years.
If you're planning on bringing a bag or cooler to the race, expect longer wait times because ESG Security, not the yellow shirts, will be doing a more thorough search. But if you're not bringing any of those items, then you can go in the Express Lane which will get you into the track much faster.
At the gates you might also see police dogs and additional surveillance cameras.
What you won't see are the undercover officers and FBI agents blending in. Bates says security and safety personnel, which includes law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics, is up 20 percent from last year.
Police cars with license plate readers will also patrol the grounds.
Other new safety features include two helicopters from US Border Patrol which will patrol from the skies.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will provide a temporary flight restriction over the track starting one hour before the race and ending one hour after the race.
Those new features and several more will make your entrance more arduous - but also more safe.
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