Hotels for Indianapolis 500 2027

The Indianapolis 500 is one of motorsport's most iconic races, drawing fans from around the world to witness high-speed competition at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Where you stay determines how easily you can reach the venue during race week, when roads and parking fill up quickly.

First run in 1911 and won by Ray Harroun, the Indianapolis 500 is the world's oldest major motor race and, with the Monaco Grand Prix and the Le Mans 24 Hours, one of motorsport's Triple Crown. Held each Memorial Day weekend at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway — a rectangular oval nicknamed the Brickyard for its original paved surface — the race covers 200 laps and 500 miles.

Traditions run deep: the winner drinks milk in Victory Lane, a custom dating to the 1930s, and a field of 33 cars roars away after the command to start engines. The Speedway's grandstands and infield hold one of the largest crowds in all of sport, drawing several hundred thousand spectators on race day.

A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears and Helio Castroneves share the record with four victories apiece. Qualifying over the preceding weekend sets the grid by four-lap average speed, with pole position among the most coveted starts in racing.