INDIANAPOLIS — The 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 has been postponed until Aug. 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The GMR Grand Prix, which also takes place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), has been rescheduled to Saturday, July 4.
The Indianapolis 500 was originally scheduled for Sunday, May 24. The GMR Grand Prix was scheduled to be run on Saturday, May 9.
"The Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is my favorite time of year, and like our fans, I am disappointed that we have had to reschedule the Indianapolis 500," IndyCar and IMS Owner Roger Penske said. "However, the health and safety of our event participants and spectators is our top priority, and we believe that postponing the event is the responsible decision with the conditions and restrictions we are facing. We will continue to focus on ways we can enhance the customer experience in the months ahead, and I'm confident we will welcome fans with a transformed facility and a global spectacle when we run the world's greatest race."
All concerts scheduled along with the Indy 500 have been canceled as well. REO Speedwagon and Styx were scheduled to perform on May 22, Luke Bryan was scheduled to perform on May 23 and Martin Garrix was scheduled to perform on May 24.
IMS will issue refunds for concert-specific purchases or will issue a credit for any future events at the venue, including the Indy 500. IMS concert customers will receive further communication on how to exercise their ticketing options.
On-track action in August will begin at IMS with practice sessions on Aug. 12-13, followed by Fast Friday on Aug. 14 and Indianapolis 500 Qualifications on Saturday and Sunday Aug. 15-16.
The updated 2020 IndyCar schedule is as follows:
Saturday, May 30
Streets of Detroit Race 1
Sunday, May 31
Streets of Detroit Race 2
Saturday, June 6
Texas Motor Speedway
Sunday, June 21
Road America
Saturday, June 27
Richmond Raceway
Saturday, July 4
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
Sunday, July 12
Streets of Toronto
Saturday, July 18
Iowa Speedway
Sunday, Aug. 9
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Sunday, Aug. 23
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
Sunday, Aug. 30
World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway
Sunday, Sept. 13
Portland International Raceway
Sunday, Sept. 20
WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca
TBD Expected Finale
Streets of St. Petersburg
This story was originally published by Matt McKinney on WRTV in Indianapolis.
