Opening Day showcases Verizon IndyCar Series Superspeedway Aero Kits during Oval Test on Sunday at I

Preparations for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will go into high gear with the highly anticipated debut of the Verizon IndyCar Series superspeedway aerodynamic bodywork packages during an Opening Day test on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval on Sunday, May 3. Speeds on the oval are expected to be faster with the aero kits featuring modifications that will bring renewed innovation and differentiate Chevrolet- and Honda-badged Dallara race cars for fans. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves leads an impressive list of past winners slated to participate in the Sunday test including defending champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan. Reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power and two-time defending Indianapolis 500 pole-winner Ed Carpenter will also be on hand. Members of the 2015 Indianapolis 500 rookie class expected to participate include Stefano Coletti and Gabby Chaves. General admission tickets are $15, with children 12 and under free. Public gates open at 9:30 a.m.

SCHEDULE (All times local):

Opening Day - Sunday, May 3, 2015

9:30 a.m.Public Gates Open

9:30-10:45 a.m.Verizon IndyCar Series Veterans Testing

10:45 a.m.- NoonVerizon IndyCar Series Rookies/Refresher Testing

11 a.m.-Noon Firestone "Wheel" Pin Distribution (Pagoda Plaza)

Noon-1 p.m.Break

12:05 p.m.Pit Lane Walk for fans begins - Enter at Panasonic Pagoda, Gasoline Alley, South Pit Gate

12:40 p.m.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Yard of Bricks Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, Doug Boles, Derrick Walker

12:45 p.m.Pit Lane Walk Concludes - Exit at Panasonic Pagoda, Gasoline Alley, South Pit Gate

12:47 p.m.Pace Car Dedication - Pit Lane Yard of Bricks Doug Boles, Derrick Walker, Chevy Representative - Pace Car

1 p.m.Verizon IndyCar Series Practice Begins Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard to wave green flag

5 p.m.Verizon IndyCar Series Practice Concludes Public Gates Close

TICKETS: $15, children 12 and under free

HONORARY STARTER: 1 p.m. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard

PROMOTIONS: Firestone "Wheel" Pin distribution begins at 11 a.m. (Pagoda Plaza).

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 9:30 a.m. (local time). Pedestrian gates open are Gates 1B, 2, 4, 6.

STANDS OPEN: A Penthouse, B Penthouse, E Stand, E Penthouse, H Stand (AS NEEDED GA - Sec. 13-24, J Stand, North Vista Wheelchair (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 21), Northwest Vista (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 1-10), Northwest Vista Deck, Paddock Wheelchair (AS NEEDED GA - Box 19-22), Paddock Penthouse (AS NEEDED GA - Box 10-20), South Terrace, South Terrace Wheelchair, South Vista (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 1-5), South Vista Deck (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 1-4), Tower Terrace (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 37 & 79), Tower Terrace Wheelchair, Pit Road Terrace, Wheelchair Accessible, Corner 5, Corner 5 Wheelchair, Corner 7, Corner 7 Wheelchair, Backstretch Family Mounds, Turn 2 (Oval) Mounds, Turn 4 (Oval) Mound, Corner 6 Mounds, Corner 7 Mounds

MUSEUM HOURS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for fans 6-15 years old, with children under 5 free. Gate admission to the Indianapolis 500 is not included in Museum admission and must be purchased separately.

2015 Month of May Schedule

Saturday, May 2

OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Rev: Methodist Health Foundation charity kick-off event at IMS

Sunday, May 3

Opening Day - Verizon IndyCar Series oval test (aero kits debut)

Thursday, May 7

Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis practice (free to the public)

Friday, May 8

Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis qualifications

Saturday, May 9

Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis Race Day

May 11-14

Indianapolis 500 practice

Friday, May 15

Indianapolis 500 practice - Fast Friday

Saturday, May 16

Indianapolis 500 qualifications

Sunday, May 17

Old National Armed Forces Pole Day

Monday, May 18

Indianapolis 500 practice

Wednesday, May 20

IMS Racing Experience & Fan Track Laps Driver Community Day

Thursday, May 21

Indy Lights practice and qualifications

Friday, May 22

Coors Light Carb Day Indianapolis 500 practice Freedom 100 race TAG Heuer Pit Stop Challenge Coors Light Carb Day concert

Saturday, May 23

Legends Day Honoring Al Unser presented by Firestone Florida Georgia Line concert presented by Firestone

Sunday, May 24

99th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Miller Lite

Contact:

Suzi Elliott

selliott@brickyard.com

#verizonindycarseries #Indy500