Race fan receives threats after sharing images, video of packed Indianapolis Speedrome
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — “Standing room only” is how Saturday night’s crowd at the Indianapolis Speedrome was described by multiple viewers who sending News 8 pictures and video of crowds Saturday night at the track.
Those viewers said they were concerned about public safety, fearing the Speedrome wasn’t abiding by COVID-19 guidelines and was far over the 25% capacity limit ordered by the Marion County Public Health Department.
“People were supposed to be six feet apart,” a race fan who was there Saturday and has asked to remain anonymous recounted Sunday. “And there were signs everywhere that said ‘you must remain six feet apart.’ But literally people were elbow to elbow. People were falling on each other. Children and even adults were sitting in the walkway.”
The Speedrome on Saturday evening posted on Facebook: “We unfortunately have reached our capacity limits set by Marion County. We got way more people than expected. Pit passes are still available as that area is not at capacity. Sorry for any inconveniences.”
“I’ve been going to Speedrome since I was probably 2 years old,” the race fan said. “And I have never seen that place so busy other than maybe some of their bigger events.”
The race fan asked to remain anonymous because after they sent News 8 video, they started getting threats.
“I was receiving death threats to me, to my family, to my home,” they said. “I have received pictures of my home.”
The race fan shared some of those threatening messages with News 8.
“I will hunt you down,” one message read. “I will find you and you will get the a** whoopin’ no man or child has ever known.”
Harsh and hurtful.
“My words will make you cry and I will hurt you so hard,” another message said.
Despite the backlash, the fan says they are still concerned about safety at the track.
They hope the next event does a better job at keeping people safe and that Speedrome needs to step up and say they were in the wrong for allowing the crowds to be created.
“I’m not trying to get somebody shut down,” the fan said. “But I just feel like as an organization, they owed it to the citizens, to their customers, to provide that safe environment.”
News 8 has reached out to the Speedrome, the Marion County Public Health Department, Mayor Hogsett’s office, Gov. Holcomb’s office and the Indiana State Department of Health. On Sunday night, News 8 had heard back from a representative from the Marion County Public Health Department, who says they receive and investigate complaints of violations regarding current public health orders and that they’ll have more information on Monday.