Indianapolis, IN

Touring the ‘home away from home’ for Conor Daly & Rinus VeeKay at IMS ahead of the Indy 500

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2023

Touring the ‘home away from home’ for Conor Daly & Rinus VeeKay at IMS ahead of the Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS — Step inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and you’re bound to find an IndyCar driver.

They aren’t always suited up and inside a race car, but many of them basically live at the track the entire month of May.

Most of the drivers, like Noblesville native Conor Daly, choose to camp out the entire month in the coach lot.

“It’s perfect. It’s literally everything that you need when you have a hot day at the track you come in here and it’s cool,” Conor Daly said “These days are so long and so busy it’s good to have a home base to relax at.”

The drivers, their families and even pets all stay at the track during one of the most exciting months of their year.

These aren’t just ordinary campers, these coaches have all the bells and whistles.

With large kitchens and bedrooms , comfy furniture and fully stocked fridges, it’s an experience the drivers say they soak up to it’s fullest.

“This is better than Christmas, better than new year, better than birthdays all wrapped in one,” Daly said.

Daly gave WRTV’s Kaitlyn Kendall a grand tour of his coach.

Touring Conor Daly’s camper ahead of the Indy 500

Even though he lives in Indianapolis, he chooses to camp at the track where he can get the most of his experience during the month of May.

Daly’skitchen is fully stocked for his friends, who are local, to come out and enjoy the track too.

“There is something about coming back here, because you can interact with everyone and have a great time,” Daly said.

He says it’s all part of the month of May experience.

But it isn’t just the camping – the drivers also hang out between racing and practices.

From dinners together to fishing trips and more, it’s like one big family camping trip – without the tents.

“Being together with all of the drivers and spending time with each other that you normally don’t because were always busy doing stuff. It’s nice to have that bit of brotherhood between rivals,” Rinus VeeKay said.

As one of the younger Indy 500 drivers, VeeKay’s enjoys the fact that he can bring his family along. His parents travel with him and he says it’s nice to have that piece of home while you’re on the road.

“It is nice to have my parents around her they always come to all my races,” VeeKay said.”I am 22-years-old, I need my parents and it’s nice to just have them around me all the time.”

Veekay also gave WRTV a tour of his coach, check it out below.

Touring Rinus VeeKay’s camper ahead of the Indy 500

The coach lot is a bit of an oasis, a home away from home for the drivers.

“It’s nice to kind of have a home to get away from that whole crazy racing business, sit down and have lunch with my parents,” VeeKay said.

VeeKay says it’s nice to have an opportunity to build a camaraderie among competitors. “We are race car drivers but outside the race car we still need to blow off some steam and let the mind wonder around a bit.” said.

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Indianapolis, IN

NCAA Tournament 2025 regional tickets, hotels, Airbnb in Indianapolis

Published

3 hours ago

March 24, 2025

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NCAA Tournament 2025 regional tickets, hotels, Airbnb in Indianapolis

Indianapolis will host an NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday and Sunday, March 28 and 30, 2025. Houston, Purdue, Tennessee and Illinois/Kentucky made the Sweet 16. The last team standing earns a spot in the Final Four, April 5 and 7 in San Antonio.

Here’s how you can secure a ticket and lodging in Indianapolis for the NCAA Tournament regional.

When are the NCAA Tournament games in Indianapolis? When are the NCAA Tournament games at Lucas Oil Stadium?

Tennessee vs. Kentucky, 7:39 p.m. ET Friday, March 28
Houston vs. Purdue, 10:09 p.m. ET Friday, March 28
Regional championship game is Sunday, March 30, time TBA

NCAA Tournament tickets at Lucas Oil Stadium

Buy Sweet 16, Elite 8 tickets

All sessions: Start at $443 on StubHub

Friday, March 28: Starting at $194 on StubHub

Sunday, March 30: Starting at $127 on StubHub

Buy Purdue NCAA Tournament tickets

Lodging for the NCAA Tournament regional in Indianapolis

Rooms start at $95 a night on Expedia

Airbnb for March Madness regional in Indianapolis

Rooms start at $40 on Airbnb

How likely is Houston to win March Madness?

The Houston Cougars (32-4) are the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional and have won 15 consecutive games. They own the nation’s best defense, allowing 58.4 points per game and 38.4% shooting. Houston is the nation’s best 3-point shooting team (39.8%), though it doesn’t shoot many, and it protects the ball (9.2 turnovers, 6th fewest). The Cougars were national runners-up in 1983 and ’84 have been to the Final Four seven times, most recently in 2022.

Houston basketball key players

Houston basketball coach

Kelvin Sampson is in his 11th season at Houston and owns a 296-83 record. He previously coached at Washington State, Oklahoma and Indiana.

Houston NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Houston 78, SIU-Edwardsville 40

Second round: Houston 81, Gonzaga 76

Has Purdue basketball ever made the Final Four?

The Purdue Boilermakers reached last season’s national championship game, losing to UConn. They were the national runner-up in 1969 and made the 1980 Final Four at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. The No. 4 Midwest Regional seed lost six of its last nine games leading into the NCAA Tournament but won its March Madness games handily.

Purdue basketball key players

Purdue basketball coach

Matt Painter is in his 20th season at Purdue and owns a 471-214 record. He previously coached at Southern Illinois.

Purdue NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Purdue 75, High Point 53

Second round: Purdue 76, McNeese 62

Has Tennessee ever made it to the Final Four?

The Tennessee Volunteers (29-7) seek their first Final Four trip. Purdue defeated Tennessee in a 2024 regional championship game. The Volunteers finished fourth in the Southeastern Conference, which sent a record 14 teams to March Madness. They have a stingy defense, allowing 62.9 points per game (No. 6 in the nation) and 38.2% shooting (No. 1) and 28.3% 3-point shooting (No. 3). They lost twice to Kentucky this season.

Tennessee men’s basketball NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Tennessee 77, Wofford 62

Second round: Tennessee 67, UCLA 58

Tennessee basketball coach

Rick Barnes is in his 10th season at Tennessee, and owns a 231-108 record. He previously coached at George Mason, Providence, Clemson and Texas.

Tennessee basketball key players

Why is Kentucky basketball so popular?

The Kentucky Wildcats (24-11) are a true college basketball blue blood, with eight NCAA Tournament championships, second to UCLA. UK last won the title in 2012. This season’s Wildcats average 85.0 points per game (No. 4 in the nation) and have six players averaging in double figures. Their depth shows in their 45-point average in second halves (also No. 4). They have beaten Tennessee twice this season.

Kentucky basketball NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Kentucky 76, Troy 57

Second round: Kentucky 84, Illinois 75

Kentucky basketball coach

Mark Pope is in his first season at Kentucky. He previously coached Utah Valley and Brigham Young.

Kentucky basketball key players

What channel are NCAA Tournament games in Indianapolis on?

TV: Games are on CBS, with Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery and Grant Hill (analysis), and Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporting)

Watch the games with a free Fubo trial

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Indianapolis, IN

Marion County deputy sheriff arrested and fired for drunk driving

Published

14 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

Marion County deputy sheriff arrested and fired for drunk driving

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — David Hodges, a deputy sheriff at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Saturday for drunk driving.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday, that Hodges was arrested by the Lawrence Police Department March 22.

Hodges arrested and taken to jail for operating a vehicle while intoxicated with endangerment, reckless driving causing property damage, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a BAC above .08%.

MCSO said in the press release that Hodges has been terminated following the arrest.

Hodges’ initial hearing is set for April 7.

This is a developing story.

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Indianapolis, IN

How to buy Tennessee Sweet 16 tickets, Tennessee Vols March Madness basketball tickets

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

How to buy Tennessee Sweet 16 tickets, Tennessee Vols March Madness basketball tickets

No. 2 Tennessee is back in the Sweet 16.

The Volunteers defeated No. 7 UCLA 67-58 on Friday, advancing to the Midwest Regional Semifinals.

The Vols were once again led by senior Chaz Lanier. After scoring 29 points in the Round of 64, Lanier had 20 points on Saturday and broke the school record for most three pointers made in a season.

Tennessee advanced to the Sweet 16 where they will take on the winner of the upcoming matchup on Sunday between No. 3 Kentucky and No. 6 Illinois.

Here’s everything you need to know in order to buy Tennessee men’s March Madness Sweet 16 tickets.

Shop Tennessee March Madness tickets

Tennessee Sweet 16 location

The Vols are headed to Indianapolis for the Midwest Regional. The games will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Tennessee Sweet 16 tickets

Tennessee tickets for the Sweet 16 are already on sale. As of publication, the cheapest available ticket to Friday’s game costs $206.

Shop Tennessee Sweet 16 tickets

Tennessee Sweet 16 game date, time

The Midwest Regional’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will take place in Indianapolis. The Sweet 16 is scheduled to be played on Friday, March 28 and the Eite Eight game is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 30. Game times will be announced closer to the conclusion of the Round of 32.

Tennessee Midwest Regional Sweet 16 tickets

The Midwest Regional Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets are on sale now. An All-Sessions pass for Indianapolis grants access to both Sweet 16 games and the Elite 8 game. At the time of publication, the cheapest All Sessions Pass costs $409.

Shop Indianapolis All-Sessions Pass

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