INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis 500 is set for an unforgettable race day this Sunday, with energy and anticipation running high as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) prepares to welcome a sold-out crowd for the first time since 2016.

Organizers, law enforcement and federal partners are all working together to ensure a safe experience for attendees.

Fans are reminded that while grandstand tickets are no longer available, general admission tickets can still be purchased.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early and take advantage of the full day of activities.

Between merchandise booths, pre-race festivities, and tributes to military service members in honor of Memorial Day, there’s plenty to see and do before the cars take to the track.

Visitors are strongly advised to plan ahead. Traffic and access challenges are a part of the Indy 500 experience, especially with so many arriving and departing at the same time.

Fans should expect peak wait times at entry gates around 11:30 a.m. and are encouraged to arrive between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. for a smoother entry.

Parking and shuttle services are already sold out, so many attendees will rely on the hospitality of local Speedway residents offering parking on their lawns.

Upon departure, the Speedway will direct vehicles based on quadrants to move traffic as efficiently as possible, though fans should be aware that lots near the venue will remain closed for up to an hour after the race to ensure pedestrian safety.

Metal detectors and vehicle sweeps are in place.

There will be a unified effort in place, including the Department of Homeland Security and local agencies.

Fans are reminded to leave drones at home because violations will be taken seriously.

DHS also urges attendees to stay alert and engaged. The “See Something, Say Something” campaign remains active, and fans are encouraged to report anything suspicious.

For real-time alerts, fans can opt into the city’s mass notification system by texting INDY500 to 67283.

As fans gear up for the world’s largest single-day sporting event, officials stress the importance of patience, planning and participation in keeping everyone safe.

Nine-time Grammy nominee Natalie Grant will sing the national anthem before the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25, Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced.

Grant, a Seattle native who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, is known for her work in Christian and gospel music, having won five GMA Dove Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her most recent album “Seasons,” which debuted at the top of the Christian Billboard charts, includes collaborations with Mary Mary, CeCe Winans and more. Her cover of Whitney Houston’s “Step By Step” with Dolly Parton made the mainstream adult contemporary chart.

“Natalie’s emotional and stirring rendition of the national anthem in front of the grandstand sellout crowd will be an unforgettable moment during pre-race ceremonies for the Indy 500,” said J. Douglas Boles, IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway president, in a May 21 release. “The national anthem pays honor to the country we love and gets us one step closer to the final, dramatic and electric moments leading up to the start of the Indianapolis 500.”

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Outside of her singing career, Grant co-founded Hope for Justice, a nonprofit that fights human trafficking. She’s an author who’s written 11 books, including the Glimmer Girls tween series about the adventures of twins and their little sister who travel the world with their vocalist mom. Grant is married to Bernie Herms, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, producer and composer, and the pair’s three children inspired the book series.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway previously announced that four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski will be the grand marshal of the Snake Pit on May 25. American dance producer Illenium will headline the 2025 Snake Pit. Bret Michaels and the All-American Rejects will co-headline Carb Day on May 23. On May 24, Midland will headline the 2025 Firestone Legends Day concert.

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Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Sign up here for the newsletter she curates about things to do and ways to explore Indianapolis. Find her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.

11-Time Indy 500 Participant Oriol Servia Joins as Lead Analyst in the Booth

On-Site Coverage Kicks off Thursday, May 22

LOS ANGELES – FOX Deportes, America’s leading supplier of Spanish-language sports programming for more than 25 years, presents live coverage of the 109^th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Saturday, May 25 live from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  The broadcast of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” a first for FOX Deportes, serves as the premier event of the network’s first season as the Spanish-language home of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Race day coverage kicks off at 10:00 AM ET with live coverage from the speedway during the network’s popular round-table sports talk program EL ENTRETIEMPO. At 12:00 PM ET, TOTAL SPORTS ESPECIAL, live from Indianapolis, brings viewers right up to the green flag.

Race coverage is helmed by renowned Spanish-language motorsports announcer Tony Rivera, Emmy Award-winning analyst Jessi Losada and experienced reporter Giselle Zarur.

Joining the team as analyst for this year’s race is former INDYCAR driver Oriol Servia. An experienced driver in multiple racing series, Servia has raced in the Indy 500 a total of 11 times including a fourth-place finish in 2012. The native of Catalonia, Spain also currently serves as the official pace car driver for all races outside of the Indy 500.

Overall coverage from Indianapolis kicks off on Thursday, May 22 as Zarur delivers exclusive interviews, features and live hits each day for TOTAL SPORTS 360, the network’s daily sports news program.

All race coverage will be streamed on FOX Sports App. Fans can also visit www.foxdeportes.com and follow FOX Deportes on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok  and Facebook for highlights, analysis, interviews and more.