IndyCar / Indianapolis 500
Legends Day brings autographs, the drivers’ meeting and a parade — if the weather holds
Tomorrow’s Indy 500 eve festivities at IMS are packed, but a 50% chance of morning showers could put a damper on some plans
WRBI SPORTS · Indianapolis Motor Speedway
⛈ Weather watch: Showers are possible before 10 a.m. and again after 2 p.m. Saturday at Speedway, Ind., with a 50% chance of precipitation throughout the day. Skies will be mostly cloudy with a high near 75°F and west winds of 5–8 mph. Visitors should check conditions before heading out, as some outdoor activities could be affected.
(Indianapolis) — The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is still one day away, but tomorrow at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is anything but quiet.
Legends Day — the traditional eve-of-the-race celebration — is loaded with activity for fans who make the trek to the Brickyard, from a full-field autograph session with this year’s starting lineup to the Public Drivers’ Meeting, where 33 of the world’s fastest drivers receive their final instructions before Sunday’s green flag. All of it, of course, is subject to whatever Mother Nature has in mind.
Gates open at 8 a.m., and the first major event on the schedule is the 2026 Indianapolis 500 Drivers’ Autograph Session in Pagoda Plaza from 9 to 10 a.m. — right in the window when showers are most likely. Fans hoping to get up close with this year’s field may want to bring an umbrella and arrive with patience.
The centerpiece of the morning is the Public Drivers’ Meeting at Tower Terrace, scheduled from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. The open-to-all gathering is one of IndyCar’s most unique traditions, giving general admission ticket holders a rare look at the pre-race ritual that has kicked off Indianapolis 500 week for generations.
Former Indy 500 drivers will hold autograph sessions in the North Chalet at noon and again from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. — a chance for fans to connect with some of the legends the day is named for. A second round of potential showers is possible after 2 p.m., so timing those visits could matter.
The action isn’t confined to the Speedway. Downtown Indianapolis hosts the Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade at noon — billed as the nation’s largest motor racing parade — featuring more than 80 floats, marching bands and the full starting field of this year’s race rolling through the city streets.
Back at IMS, Chevrolet is staging what it’s calling the “Birthday Candle Blowout” at 2:30 p.m. on the Turns 4 and 5 section of the IMS Road Course, showcasing the American-made Corvette ZR1X as part of the automaker’s yearlong celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Saturday at a glance
| 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Public gates open |
| 9 – 10 a.m. | Drivers’ Autograph Session, Pagoda Plaza |
| 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. | Public Drivers’ Meeting, Tower Terrace |
| Noon | Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade, Downtown Indianapolis |
| Noon – 1 p.m. | Former Drivers’ Autograph Session, North Chalet |
| 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Former Drivers’ Autograph Session, North Chalet |
| 2:30 p.m. | Chevrolet Birthday Candle Blowout, IMS Road Course |
General admission tickets are $20 and include access to select grandstands and the garage area. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. The IMS Museum is also open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with tickets available separately at imsmuseum.org.
IMS operates as a cashless facility. Fans carrying only cash can use the Cash-to-Card machine in Pagoda Plaza to convert paper currency to a temporary Mastercard/Visa debit card. Free parking is available at the 5th & Hulman Lot and N Lot, with additional paid and pre-paid options throughout the grounds.
The 110th Indianapolis 500 takes the green flag Sunday. Coverage starts at 11:30 a.m. on 103.9 FM, WRBI.