Sales are Slow for Indianapolis 500

The split between the 2-year-old Indy Racing League and the established CART circuit may be taking its toll on the Indianapolis 500.

The race is normally sold out by mid-June, but the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was still accepting ticket applications on Friday.

WISH-TV in Indianapolis reported that people can walk in or call the track for ticket applications through Monday.

Speedway officials said the deadline was extended because of what they called confusion surrounding this year’s race.

This year’s Indianapolis 500 was rained out on May 25. It began the following day, but was halted early because of more rain. It was completed May 27 and ended with controversy and confusion on the final lap with the starter waving a green flag to resume racing after a caution period while the caution light remained yellow over portions of the track.

The next IRL race in Texas also was marred by controversy when Billy Boat was brought into victory lane as the apparent winner with Arie Luyendyk complaining that he was the winner. The scoring mistake led to a blindside attack on Luyendyk by A.J. Foyt, the owner of the car driven by Boat.

A review of scoring and timing confirmed that Luyendyk had won the race and the IRL fired the U.S. Auto Club as its sanctioning body following the two controversial finishes.

Differences over the direction open-wheel racing was taking led Speedway president Tony George to form the IRL, a move that has kept veteran drivers like Michael Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, Bobby Rahal and Al Unser Jr. from racing at Indianapolis.

The speedway said the extra time to submit ticket applications was simply an accommodation to fans, WISH reported.

Ticket broker Fred Bear thought there was more than accommodation behind the extension.

“Five or six years ago, you had one day or a week to return your renewal slips. Now they’re extending it,” Bear said. “It’s showing you that maybe the demand, people not renewing as quick, and maybe they just don’t want [the tickets].”