40,000 expected for Red Bull Air Race

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) – Business owners are hoping their profits will soar this weekend thanks to the Red Bull Air Race.

Some of the world’s best pilots will race Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and thousands of fans will flock to the track. Paying customers are invited to watch the pilots practice Saturday.

Fans were already out and spending money on Main St. Friday, including Tim King from Indianapolis.

“I think it’s going to be a fantastic event,” King said. “You’ve got the best racers from all over the world coming. It’s going to be a unique event too.”

Restaurants said they’re adding staff and stocking up on food and drinks for the weekend.

“We don’t really know what to expect,” Marcia Huff of Barbecue & Bourbon said. “It’s exciting. It’s new. We hope it builds and builds every year.”

Speedway bars are teaming up for an aviation-themed pub crawl Friday night. Organizers said the best “Top Gun” costumes will win prizes.

The pilots spent Friday practicing above the Brickyard, but the race for new customers had already started.

“We get people from all over the world. It’s neat to meet them and hear their stories of how they’ve come,” Dawson’s server Steve Moore said.

The IMS staff is expecting about 40,000 people for the race.

The planes will move faster than 200 miles per hour.