INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis 500 fans around the world will be eagerly checking their mailboxes after the iconic blue envelopes containing race day tickets were mailed Wednesday from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office.

The mailing marks the beginning of the countdown to the 109th running of the race about 1 p.m. May 25.

Over 215,000 tickets, including Race Day, parking, and other event tickets, were sent to all 50 U.S. states and 38 countries.

Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing helped with the mailing. He said in a statement in a news release issued Wednesday, “I just like to do this to kind of amp myself up a bit for the 500. It feels like you’re actually kind of starting May when you’re here. I love it.”

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Devlin DeFrancesco and Louis Foster, along with Rosenqvist, were present to assist with the initial mailing. They also took the time to write notes and signatures on some envelopes, adding a personal touch for fans from their home countries.

The process of preparing the tickets for mailing takes about nine weeks and involves over 1,000 hours. More than 32,000 blue envelopes were used, requiring over 650 U.S. Postal Service trays to accommodate them.

The tradition of using blue envelopes for Indianapolis 500 tickets began in 1994 to distinguish them from other events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Color coding helps ensure that tickets are easily identifiable, especially if returned by the Postal Service.

Reserved seats for the Sunday race remain available online starting at $75, and general admission tickets start at $50.