SPEEDWAY, Ind. - - Main St. in Speedway Monday was a plain contrast to what it was the couple of days previously. Race weekend brought thousands of fans and their wallets to the city surrounding the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
" It was definitely one of the larger crowds that we've had here in quite a while," stated Angie Averitt, an employee at The Famous Soda and Candy Company.
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The shop selling vintage candy, race and soda memorabilia even extended hours on the weekend.
" There were a couple of times where you could not even meander through this location here there were so many people in it," Averitt stated.
She stated they remained open hours after they were expected to close due to the fact that the clients would not stop can be found in.
" Just look around, we have holes to fill," Averitt said pointing at the store racks. "We're expanding product to fill holes to make it look complete."
Suppliers had great sales, too.
Artist Alex Wakefield was apart of the Speedway Month of May Pop Up Shop. He stated it was really successful.
" We were supposed to close at 9 however we stayed open till 11 or 11:30, due to the fact that there were many people hanging out and still being available in and examining things out and purchasing things," Wakefield stated.
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Longtime Indy 500 fans and Indy homeowners Phil and Nancy Mills remained in Speedway for the fourth day in a row Monday.
" It was just an incredible experience, one of the best ever," stated Phil, talking about the 107th running of the greatest phenomenon in racing.
Phil has actually been going to the Indy 500 because 1958, only missing two years when he served in the military.
From their view, the 107th running of the Indy 500 had among the biggest crowds in some time.
" We're on the top row, so we can look down at the stands, and typically there is a lot of empty space, but the other day I didn't see any," Nancy stated.
IMS authorities said Sunday's race saw the second most significant crowd in more than two decades.
An official number has not been reported yet, but that would show it was larger than 2022 when 325,000 individuals were at the race. The 100th running in 2016 was the most significant of the last two decades with a sellout and 350,000 fans in participation.
" It kind of makes you tear up if you've been coming as long as I have," Phil stated. "Just to see the crowd, it's remarkable."
Now the countdown begins to the 108th running of the Indy 500. Simply 363 more days till May 26th, 2024.
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