IMS president Doug Boles says ticket sales are up for Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Friday marked 100 days to the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, and the countdown is on.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles had positive news to share on the attendance for this year’s race.

He said that ticket purchases for the Indianapolis 500 in 2025 are up from 2024 at this point in the year. He added that ticket sales in 2024 were also up from 2023. He explained why he thinks that is.

“When you fall in love with the Indianapolis 500 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, you start asking your friends to come and you bring more family members and that’s what makes that event so cool,” Boles said. “And it really is about the fans. Without fans, this thing isn’t getting ready to celebrate 109 years. So just that momentum and feeling those fans and how much they love it is pretty cool.”

Josef Newgarden will be going for his third straight Indianapolis 500 victory this year. If he’s able to pull that off, he will be the first driver in the history of the race to win three in a row.

“He’s been fantastic,” Boles said. “I know in his head he says, ‘Okay, I’m relaxed now. I don’t really care about the three-peat.’ I think the pressure of trying to be three-peat, it will be interesting to see how focused he gets in the Month of May.”

Boles has a new job on his hands now. He’s not only the president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As of Tuesday, February 11, he’s now the president of IndyCar as well.

“It’s been busy but I’m excited,” Boles said.

He said he was going to go down to St. Petersburg to work with the teams during testing, as the first race of the season is less than two weeks away.

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is scheduled for Sunday, March 2 at noon EST.