IMS opens for fans after $90 million renovation

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Race fans got their first peek Thursday at what $90 million can buy.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened Thursday ahead of Saturday’s Grand Prix and the 100th running of the Indidanapolis 500 later this month

“It just changes year after year,” said Mike Beach, who’s been coming to IMS since he was a child.

The biggest changes came this year. And you can sense them from the moment you walk in.

Project 100, in anticipation of the 100th running, brought new chair backs, with cup holders, a new surface for racing and a new security fence.

But the sounds are still the same.

“I actually thought it would hurt my ears but it doesn’t at all, it’s actually really awesome sounding,” said Megan Buckmaster, visiting IMS for the first time.

“I think it’s great. I’ve been coming out here since 1971 and it’s really nice. I love coming out here,” said Ed Bigelow while sitting in one of the new second tier chairs.

“Man, I’m just super like it’s like feeling the sound of the cars, it’s just like overwhelmingly like awesome,” said another man named Mike Beach.

All the fans are ready for what the Month of May has to offer.

“I plan on coming out here all month. Practice, qualifying and everything. I already took all my vacation time to do this,” said Bigelow.

“It’s amazing,” said Jason Clevenger who was chaperoning a class field trip. “That adrenaline you feel when you hear those cars running around the track, that’s an amazing sound.”

Reserved tickets for the Indy 500 are sold out, but general admission is still available. Tickets are also still available for the Grand Prix and Brickyard.