Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials expect to "draw more fans to the track this May than they did a year ago," according to Anthony Schoettle of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. IMS President Doug Boles on Tuesday said that Saturday’s Verizon IndyCar Series Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis "will draw more than 40,000 ticket-buying fans, and the Indianapolis 500 will see ticket sales increases for the third consecutive year." He declined to say "how many fans would be at the Indy 500, by far the track’s biggest money maker." Boles: "With the Grand Prix we’re right in the same ball park as last year at this point in time. Just like last year, weather will be a big factor. ... If we match what we did last year, we’ll consider that a success. You often see a drop off after the inaugural year." Schoettle noted forecasters "are predicting a chance of rain for Saturday." Angie’s List "has provided a boost, pledging to bring 5,000 fans" to the Grand Prix. The outlook for the Indianapolis 500 "looks even brighter." Boles said that in each of the last 10 days, more Indy 500 tickets "have been sold than on the corresponding day a year ago" (IBJ.com, 5/6).
