INDY 500: Full sellout, local TV blackout lifted

The first sellout of the Indianapolis 500 in 20 years will result in a good day for fans in Indiana that couldn't get tickets. Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials announced on Wednesday morning that the local blackout will be lifted for Sunday's 100th Indianapolis 500.

"The grandstands have been sold out for weeks and now we've sold all the suites and infield general admission tickets," said IMS president Doug Boles. "So it seemed like the right thing to do."

Since 1950, the last time the race was shown live in Indianapolis, it's only been available to central Indiana homes on a tape delay in the evening on ABC affiliate WRTV. It drew a 12.7 rating a year ago while the national number was 4.2, or almost six and a half million viewers.

The demand was so great that IMS has has built temporary suites on the inside of Turn 1 and coming off Turn 2 next to the permanent suites. There are approximately 230,000 permanent seats, not counting the suites. And with the infield GAs gone, Indy could be looking at a crowd upward of 300,000.

"With no way to accommodate more fans at IMS, we are delighted to be able to suspend the television delay in Indianapolis, making it possible for those cannot be with us on race day to watch the 100th Running live," said IndyCar's Mark Miles. "The traditional delayed coverage on WRTV will continue, so race fans who attend the race will be able to go home with their families and watch the broadcast Sunday evening."