(NewsNation) — The “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is also a spectacle of fast food, high-end steaks and fish, craft cocktails, buckets of beer and whatever fans can fit into their own coolers.
“It’s the greatest place on earth,” Indianapolis 500 fan Zach told “NewsNation.” “They let you bring in whatever you want,” Zach said as he rolled his cooler filled with Rolling Rock and Miller Lite beer.
Bringing your own food is a great way to enjoy the day without breaking the bank, but the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s (IMS) fan food offerings are plentiful and generally less expensive than most major league sporting events. This is the first year that Aramark Sports and Entertainment is the food service provider for IMS, so it’s hoping to make a good first impression with fans.
The “Pandretti” sandwich, an Italian panini named for the Andretti family, goes for $9.
Early arrivals can snag a breakfast burrito for $6.50 or a cinnamon roll for $5.50.
A can of domestic beer will cost $7.50, the same price as a soft drink in a souvenir cup.
Higher up the “food chain,” and at higher prices, are items like a lobster and soft shell crab Po’ boy, a lobster roll, steak and eggs brunch, a seafood bucket and a 40-ounce tomahawk steak with a custom-etched bone.
The speedway is also promising a better food buying experience this year thanks to new grab-and-go concession stands. Similar to stands in many pro sports venues, fans will scan a credit or debit card when entering the stand, pick up whatever items they wish, then walk out. Scanners will tally their items and bill their card.
And, continuing a policy in place for a few years, IMS is cash-free. All food and souvenir vendors only accept credit or debit cards.