Tears and goosebumps as total eclipse watchers pack iconic Indianapolis Speedway

Published

2 years ago

April 9, 2024

Tears and goosebumps as total eclipse watchers pack iconic Indianapolis Speedway

The Indianapolis Speedway is home to the Indy 500, the biggest single-day sporting event in the world.

Emotion in the stands here is not unusual, but the noise that came from the bleachers at 3.06pm was something completely different.

The nearly 50,000 spectators knew roughly what to expect, aware that at the period of totality the moon would completely obscure the sun, plunging the arena into darkness.

But first-time eclipse watchers were overcome by the feeling.

Many of them began to cry as the sky suddenly darkened, turning afternoon into night-time in a matter of minutes.

The air chilled and people cheered loudly as the final portion of the sun was extinguished by the shape of the moon. Some took pictures on their mobile phones but many simply absorbed the moment.

“It was eerie, I’ve never seen anything like it,” one woman tells me, wiping away tears. “You just had to be here.”

“I was crying because of that feeling of awe,” Archana Thakur says.

“I totally underestimated it. I had goosebumps. I only came because my husband and daughter wanted to come but I’m so pleased I did.”

Eyewitness: ‘Celestial serendipity’ – eclipse was a breathtaking and unifying moment

She and her family drove five hours from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to be in the path of totality.

Her 10-year-old daughter, Sanvi, is a budding scientist and spent much of the day enjoying the NASA exhibitions temporarily dotted around the Speedway before watching the eclipse.

“It was breathtaking, majestic and once in a lifetime,” she tells me.

“I’m really interested in space so I researched a bit online but it was way more awesome than I expected.”

Read more:
Eclipse plunges parts of Mexico, US and Canada into darkness
The best pics and videos of the big moment
As it happened: Eclipse live – Screams, weddings and tears

‘I definitely cried’

The total solar eclipse isn’t just a spectacle, it also offers scientists a rare opportunity to study its effects on the Earth.

John Waggle was at the Speedway leading a team of student scientists from Purdue University in Indianapolis.

An hour before the eclipse, they launched three weather balloons from the track more than 100,000ft into the sky.

They hope to collect data to assess how solar eclipses impact the Earth’s atmosphere, looking at radiation, temperature changes and pressure.

“I’ve seen a partial eclipse before,” John says.

“But seeing this one is completely different. It’s like watching a concert live versus on TV. You can’t replicate feeling the air cool off, the breeze whipping through, and seeing the stars.”

His fellow student, Aubra Bailey, was similarly impressed. “It’s definitely the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen and probably ever will see,” she says.

People from all 50 states travelled to the speedway, with tickets sold in 21 different countries.

I saw toddlers and 90-year-old granddads waiting for the same moment of totality to arrive.

“It’s a very bipartisan moment that we had here today,” one man says, as he makes his way to the exit.

“Everyone here was rooting for the same thing. In our country there’s a lot of bad things going on, but for one moment we were all together enjoying it.

“I definitely cried, I thought it was tears-worthy.”

The last eclipse in Indianapolis was in the 13th century. The next will be in 129 years so it was an experience to savour and one which, for many, will not be repeated.

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Where to find cooling stations in central Indiana

Published

9 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Press Room

Where to find cooling stations in central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.

Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.

Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.

Marion County

For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.

Those Cooling Centers are:

Broad Ripple Park Family Center
Brookside Park Family Center
Christian Park Family Center
Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
Krannert Park Family Center
Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
Pride Park Family Center
Rhodius Park Family Center
Riverside Park Family Center
Stanley Strader Park Family Center
Washington Park Family Center
Windsor Park Family Center
Watkins Park Family Center
Thatcher Park Family Center

For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.

Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:

Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
- 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday

Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers

For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.

Marion

St. Martin Community Center
Grant County Family YMCA
Grant County Rescue Mission

Kokomo

The Kokomo Rescue Mission
The Excel Center in Kokomo

Peru

Community Resource Center
Miami County Courthouse
Miami County Health Department
Miami County YMCA
Peru City Hall
Peru Public Library
Peru Schools Administration Building

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Indianapolis, IN

Heat Advisory and Warning for central Indiana

Published

20 hours ago

June 28, 2026

Press Room

Heat Advisory and Warning for central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.

WRTV

A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.

Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.

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Indianapolis, IN

Storms fade with dangerous heat building through midweek | June 27, 2026

Published

1 day ago

June 28, 2026

Press Room

Storms fade with dangerous heat building through midweek | June 27, 2026

TODAY

Patchy fog early gives way to a partly sunny, warmer, and much less active day. Highs reach the mid to upper 80s, with a light south breeze around 5 mph. After the unsettled Saturday, this looks like a far more usable day for outdoor plans, with most of central Indiana staying dry from start to finish.

TONIGHT

Mostly clear early, then becoming partly to mostly cloudy toward daybreak. Lows hold in the low 70s, with a light south southeast breeze around 5 mph. Humidity stays elevated overnight, but quiet weather continues and there are no meaningful travel concerns.

TOMORROW

Mostly sunny and hot with highs pushing into the low 90s. A south southwest breeze around 5 to 10 mph keeps the air moving, but the bigger story is the heat and humidity building in. Heat index values around or above 100 are possible during the afternoon, so outdoor plans will need extra water and more breaks.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Mostly clear and warm, with lows around the mid 70s and a light south southwest breeze. There will be very little cooling after sunset, and the muggy feel hangs on through the night. Dry weather remains in place.

TUESDAY

Sunny and even hotter, with highs in the low to mid 90s and a light southwest breeze around 5 mph. This is another day where heat becomes the main impact, and it will not take long to feel it during the afternoon. Outdoor work and summer activities will need to be paced carefully.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Clear and warm again, with lows in the mid 70s and a light southwest wind. The air remains sticky overnight, and there is still no meaningful rain signal for Indianapolis.

WEDNESDAY

Mostly sunny and hot, with highs in the low to mid 90s. Wind stays light, becoming south southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Heat remains the main concern, and another uncomfortable summer afternoon is expected across central Indiana.

7 DAY FORECAST

After Saturday’s leftover storm chances fade away, the pattern flips quickly toward heat and humidity. Sunday looks quieter and warmer, then Monday through at least Wednesday trend hot with highs in the 90s and heat index values over 100 possible at times. Rain chances stay very low through midweek, with the next better opportunity for showers and storms showing up later Thursday into Friday. Overall, the bigger concern after tonight becomes summer heat rather than repeated storm chances.

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