INDIANAPOLIS — There is no time to sleep in the Circle City.
Not when the Indianapolis 500 overlaps with the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals. Not when 350,000 fans descend upon Indianapolis Motor Speedway and another 17,000 fans pack Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Not when both events occur on the same day.
Advertisement
The locals call it “Pacers and racers,” a phenomenon that happens only when the Indiana Pacers’ playoff run bumps into the Indy 500 in May. But when both events are scheduled just hours apart in Indianapolis, as will be the case Sunday for only the fourth time in history, they also see it as something of an official holiday. Rest will be at a minimum for die-hard fans of the Pacers and IndyCar — especially those brave enough to attend both events.
Brad Astbury, a 34-year-old pilot, will be one of them. And he may be the most sleep-deprived of all.
“For me, this is probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Astbury said. “I gotta do it.”
Astbury considers himself a typical Indianapolis sports fan, with a couple of exceptions: He’s been to Indianapolis only once, and he doesn’t even live in the United States. Astbury resides just outside of Manchester in the United Kingdom, five hours behind the Eastern time zone Indianapolis operates on. A huge racing fan with a primary love for Formula One, Astbury bought tickets to “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” so that he and his wife, Kirsty, could see this year’s event in person.
But he’s also keeping a close eye on one of his other favorite teams, the Pacers. When Indiana advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, he bought tickets to Game 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where he’ll watch the Pacers try to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Knicks.
“(The idea) sort of spawned from the race, and then we were lucky enough that, obviously, the Pacers got through the (Cleveland) Cavaliers in the last round,” said Astbury, who flew stateside Saturday afternoon. “So, we were like, ‘We’re over here anyway, and when are we ever gonna do this again? Let’s just go!’”
But how exactly did Astbury become a Pacers fan while living nearly 4,000 miles away from Indianapolis? It started in the early 2000s, interestingly enough while watching American football. The Tom Brady-led New England Patriots were the main NFL team shown on TV overseas, but not wanting to copy his friends, Astbury chose to cheer for New England’s fiercest rival, the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts.
Since then, Astbury said he “adopted” Indianapolis as his favorite American sports city, even visiting in November 2021 for a Colts game.
Brad Astbury’s love for Indiana sports first started with the Colts. Since then, he has built an appreciation for the Pacers, as well as the Indianapolis 500. (Photo courtesy of Brad Astbury)
“The Pacers came after (my Colts fandom started), so I didn’t really watch much of Reggie Miller live on my own,” Astbury said. “But when you pick a team, you look into the legends, and you can watch YouTube videos and that kind of thing. He was a bit of a character for as much as he was a great basketball player.
“So, when (Tyrese) Haliburton did the whole choke gesture (in Game 1 against the Knicks), that was pretty cool.”
Astbury hopes to see Haliburton break the Knicks’ hearts again Sunday night, hours after rooting for Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward to win his first Indianapolis 500.
“I’ve been to the 500. It’s crazy,” Haliburton, who drove the pace car in 2023, said after his team’s Game 2 victory Friday at Madison Square Garden. “I can’t imagine all those people coming over to Gainbridge. … It’s gonna be a special time.”
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton drove the official IndyCar Series Chevrolet Corvette pace car during the 2023 Indianapolis 500. (Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)
Chris Gahl, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Visit Indy, the city’s official tourism authority, is thrilled to welcome fans from around the world during one of the most touristy times of the year. Gahl, in fact, knows firsthand what Astbury is about to experience. The last time “Pacers and racers” occurred on the same day was May 26, 2013, when Tony Kanaan became the fourth Brazilian driver to win the Indy 500 and the Pacers hosted the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Gahl was on assignment for Visit Indy and attended both events.
Advertisement
The Indianapolis native’s advice to Astbury and others who plan to double-dip?
“Sunscreen, hydrate and pace yourself,” Gahl said, laughing. “It’s an arduous day, but it’s a fun day.”
In addition to the Indy 500 and the conference finals, Gahl noted that WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever’s Saturday matchup with the defending-champion New York Liberty was another marquee event during a jam-packed sports weekend that’s placed a “virtual sellout” on downtown Indianapolis hotels. Some visitors were required to book a minimum of three nights (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), and Gahl said that hotels on average have been able to command a higher price point for each night than last year’s Memorial Day weekend.
Indy’s bringing the heat: hoops, horsepower, and history.
Pacers. Fever. Indy 500. All in one weekend? That’s a sports trifecta.
The vibes? Immaculate. The city? Electric.Catch it or catch FOMO. 🏀🔥🏎️@Pacers @IndianaFever @IMS pic.twitter.com/0EajnrKlBx
— Visit Indy (@VisitIndy) May 24, 2025
When studying why visitors were flocking to the city this weekend, Gahl cited an uptick in Fever fans, Pacers fans and Indy 500 fans nationally and globally. For the 18th time in the Fever’s last 23 home games, they played in front of a sold-out crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, one day before the Pacers were set to do the same. The Indianapolis 500 also announced its first grandstand sellout since 2016 earlier this week.
Gahl’s findings of increased fan support also are backed by the Indianapolis International Airport’s research. Megan Carrico, the senior director of public affairs at the airport, listed the Indy 500, the Eastern Conference finals and the Fever’s home game — in addition to regular summer travel — among the major reasons why the airport could be busier than ever on Memorial Day.
Advertisement
“It’s already a normal high traffic day, so these (factors) certainly add to the numbers,” Carrico said. “We’re gonna see upwards of 23,000 travels on Monday, which will be our second-highest, if not creeping up on our highest, single travel day, which was from when we hosted the Super Bowl in 2012.”
Carrico said additional boarding pre-check lines are open to accompany the massive influx of travelers, and several airlines have opened their ticket counters early to help ease the flood of traffic. The city itself has taken additional safety measures, according to Gahl, with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and other local departments working around the clock to ensure everyone can experience this “blockbuster weekend” as they intended.
Chris Denari, a longtime Pacers play-by-play announcer and Turn 4 announcer for the Indianapolis 500, doesn’t need to travel to experience “Pacers and racers,” but the Indiana native vowed to never take this moment for granted. Three years ago, the Pacers finished the season 25-57 and landed the No. 6 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Twelve years ago — the last time the Indy 500 and the conference finals landed on the same day — the Paul George-led Pacers lost Game 3 to the Heat and lost the series in seven.
“Back in those days, you had LeBron (James) in the way, and I don’t want to say you were just happy to be there, but LeBron’s not there anymore,” Denari said. “It just feels like now, the city has a real belief that the Pacers could pull this off and maybe win it all. But either way, you just want to step back and truly enjoy what this Sunday will be because this doesn’t happen all the time.”
— The Athletic’s Shakeia Taylor contributed to this report.
(Top photo of Tyrese Haliburton: Mykal McEldowney / USA Today)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Norris fends off Leclerc to win unusual Monaco GP
Lando Norris held off Charles Leclerc to win an unusual Monaco Grand Prix that was dictated by new pit stop requirements.Pole-sitter Norris controlled the race and overcame the jeopardy of two mandatory tyre changes to win for the first time since the season-opener in Australia and cut his deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri to three points. Piastri took a seventh consecutive podium from fourth-placed Max Verstappen, who actually led the most laps and was leading until the penultimate lap when he took his final pit stop.Norris came under serious pressure from Leclerc in the closing stages as Verstappen backed the McLaren driver up. However, Leclerc was unable to go for a move and settled for the runners-up spot on home soil.Lewis Hamilton finished a lonely fifth after gaining two spots from his starting position of seventh through the early […]
Monaco GP: Lando Norris wins hectic race; Mercedes frustrated by Williams tactics
The Athletic has live coverage from the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix.MONACO — Lando Norris won Formula One’s 2025 Monaco Grand Prix ahead of home hero Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, with the race’s story dominated by a new rule requiring every driver to do two pit stops.“Monaco, baby!” Norris said upon crossing the finish line. “Yeah, baby!”AdvertisementThe rule was introduced after the 2024 Monaco was a lifeless procession after a lap, one red flag stoppage, and it did produce talking points across the field this time around. Several teams employed tactics that meant one driver helped their teammate by slowing down rivals and fourth-place finisher Max Verstappen stopped for the final time well out of sync with the other leaders.Norris led the race from pole, surviving early pressure at the first corner from Ferrari driver Leclerc, […]
Craque Neto sinaliza melhor batedor de pênaltis do Brasileirão: “Bom de bola”
Craque Neto, em discurso no programa Os Donos da Bola (Reprodução) Craque Neto, após São Paulo x Mirassol, fez questão de enaltecer Reinaldo. Aplicando a lei do ex na vitória por 2 a 0, o lateral-esquerdo foi atrelado ao posto de melhor cobrador de pênaltis do Brasileirão, já que detém uma eficiência extraordinária nos arremates. Além disso, o comportamento do camisa 6 em beijar o escudo do Tricolor junto à bandeira de escanteio foi elogiado. “O cara é grato por aquilo que fez no São Paulo. Esse menino é muito bom de bola. Jogou muito bem no Grêmio. É um dos melhores, se não for o melhor batedor de pênaltis do futebol brasileiro.”, disse o Craque Neto, em transmissão no YouTube. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Na visão do Craque Neto, o Corinthians vacilou ao não contratar Reinaldo. Segundo o ex-jogador, o titular […]
Casagrande elege dois times que não ganham o Brasileirão: “Largaram”
Casagrande em entrevista ao "Charla Podcast" (Reprodução - YouTube) Casagrande não economizou nas críticas ao avaliar a atuação de Atlético-MG e Corinthians, no embate das duas equipes ocorrido na Arena MRV, neste sábado (24), pela 10ª rodada do Brasileirão. Na concepção do comentarista, a dupla vai figurar no meio de tabela, dado o nível inferior. Em texto publicado no UOL Esporte após o empate em BH, Casão foi incisivo ao prospectar o que se esperar dos dois times no certame dos pontos corridos, e classificou que o foco de ambos deve ser as competições copeiras. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Ficou claro que Atlético-MG e Corinthians não querem nada com o Campeonato Brasileiro e vão “apostar todas as fichas” nas Copas do Brasil e na Sul-Americana. Portanto, seus torcedores se acostumem com jogos ruins, poucos gols e muito sofrimento”, disse Casagrande. “Corinthians e […]
Tom Rinaldi on fear of competing in INDYCAR & James Hinchcliffe’s near-death experience
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Video Details Tom Rinaldi featured James Hinchcliffe Will Power, Álex Palou & Alexander Rossi to talk about some of the scary realities competing in INDYCAR. 9 MINS AGO・NTT INDYCAR SERIES・5:09
Čeští kordisté byli na SP ve Francii desátí v soutěži družstev
České kvarteto tvořili šestý muž ze sobotní soutěže jednotlivců Jakub Jurka, Martin Rubeš, bývalý reprezentant v moderním pětiboji Jan Kuf a Michal Čupr. Češi na úvod turnaje porazili Dánsko a postoupili mezi nejlepších šestnáct, kde v boji o čtvrtfinále podlehli 41:45 Švýcarsku.Následné výhry nad Hongkongem a Nizozemskem dostaly české kvarteto do rozhodujícího duelu o 9. místo proti Itálii, s kterou reprezentanti bez Jurky prohráli jednoznačně 33:45.
Related
Norris fends off Leclerc to win unusual Monaco GP
Lando Norris held off Charles Leclerc to win an unusual Monaco Grand Prix that was dictated by new pit stop requirements.Pole-sitter Norris controlled the race and overcame the jeopardy of two mandatory tyre changes to win for the first time since the season-opener in Australia and cut his deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri to three points. Piastri took a seventh consecutive podium from fourth-placed Max Verstappen, who actually led the most laps and was leading until the penultimate lap when he took his final pit stop.Norris came under serious pressure from Leclerc in the closing stages as Verstappen backed the McLaren driver up. However, Leclerc was unable to go for a move and settled for the runners-up spot on home soil.Lewis Hamilton finished a lonely fifth after gaining two spots from his starting position of seventh through the early […]
Monaco GP: Lando Norris wins hectic race; Mercedes frustrated by Williams tactics
The Athletic has live coverage from the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix.MONACO — Lando Norris won Formula One’s 2025 Monaco Grand Prix ahead of home hero Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, with the race’s story dominated by a new rule requiring every driver to do two pit stops.“Monaco, baby!” Norris said upon crossing the finish line. “Yeah, baby!”AdvertisementThe rule was introduced after the 2024 Monaco was a lifeless procession after a lap, one red flag stoppage, and it did produce talking points across the field this time around. Several teams employed tactics that meant one driver helped their teammate by slowing down rivals and fourth-place finisher Max Verstappen stopped for the final time well out of sync with the other leaders.Norris led the race from pole, surviving early pressure at the first corner from Ferrari driver Leclerc, […]
Craque Neto sinaliza melhor batedor de pênaltis do Brasileirão: “Bom de bola”
Craque Neto, em discurso no programa Os Donos da Bola (Reprodução) Craque Neto, após São Paulo x Mirassol, fez questão de enaltecer Reinaldo. Aplicando a lei do ex na vitória por 2 a 0, o lateral-esquerdo foi atrelado ao posto de melhor cobrador de pênaltis do Brasileirão, já que detém uma eficiência extraordinária nos arremates. Além disso, o comportamento do camisa 6 em beijar o escudo do Tricolor junto à bandeira de escanteio foi elogiado. “O cara é grato por aquilo que fez no São Paulo. Esse menino é muito bom de bola. Jogou muito bem no Grêmio. É um dos melhores, se não for o melhor batedor de pênaltis do futebol brasileiro.”, disse o Craque Neto, em transmissão no YouTube. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Na visão do Craque Neto, o Corinthians vacilou ao não contratar Reinaldo. Segundo o ex-jogador, o titular […]
Casagrande elege dois times que não ganham o Brasileirão: “Largaram”
Casagrande em entrevista ao "Charla Podcast" (Reprodução - YouTube) Casagrande não economizou nas críticas ao avaliar a atuação de Atlético-MG e Corinthians, no embate das duas equipes ocorrido na Arena MRV, neste sábado (24), pela 10ª rodada do Brasileirão. Na concepção do comentarista, a dupla vai figurar no meio de tabela, dado o nível inferior. Em texto publicado no UOL Esporte após o empate em BH, Casão foi incisivo ao prospectar o que se esperar dos dois times no certame dos pontos corridos, e classificou que o foco de ambos deve ser as competições copeiras. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Ficou claro que Atlético-MG e Corinthians não querem nada com o Campeonato Brasileiro e vão “apostar todas as fichas” nas Copas do Brasil e na Sul-Americana. Portanto, seus torcedores se acostumem com jogos ruins, poucos gols e muito sofrimento”, disse Casagrande. “Corinthians e […]
Tom Rinaldi on fear of competing in INDYCAR & James Hinchcliffe’s near-death experience
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Video Details Tom Rinaldi featured James Hinchcliffe Will Power, Álex Palou & Alexander Rossi to talk about some of the scary realities competing in INDYCAR. 9 MINS AGO・NTT INDYCAR SERIES・5:09
Čeští kordisté byli na SP ve Francii desátí v soutěži družstev
České kvarteto tvořili šestý muž ze sobotní soutěže jednotlivců Jakub Jurka, Martin Rubeš, bývalý reprezentant v moderním pětiboji Jan Kuf a Michal Čupr. Češi na úvod turnaje porazili Dánsko a postoupili mezi nejlepších šestnáct, kde v boji o čtvrtfinále podlehli 41:45 Švýcarsku.Následné výhry nad Hongkongem a Nizozemskem dostaly české kvarteto do rozhodujícího duelu o 9. místo proti Itálii, s kterou reprezentanti bez Jurky prohráli jednoznačně 33:45.
Be the first to leave a comment