Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles is "predicting a 3-5% uptick in attendance over last year" for Saturday's sixth edition of the Indianapolis Grand Prix, according to Jim Ayello of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Boles "would not reveal exact numbers," but Ayello estimated there were "around 35,000 fans in attendance for last year's race." Boles said that "if the weather cooperates," this year's attendance may be "even bigger." Boles said that credit for the "anticipated increase belongs at least in part to fans and drivers' growing acceptance of the Grand Prix as the official kickoff of May." Boles added that the race could have a new entitlement sponsor "hopefully soon," but there is "nothing imminent on the horizon." Ayello notes Angie's List "held the mantle for the first three iterations of the race but was forced to bail" after '16 when facing financial woes. While "having an entitlement sponsor is ideal, it's not critical to the race's long-term health." Boles said that the Indianapolis Grand Prix, even "without Angie's List or another sponsor, is a profitable race based on ticket sales alone" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/8).
