INDIANAPOLIS — It feels like Christmas in May across the neighborhoods near Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Streets are lined with checkered flags, “Welcome race fans” signs, and festive displays — from Indy car cutouts to inflatable golden winged logos and even a mock Borg-Warner Trophy — all standing proudly on manicured lawns.
But this year, the self-proclaimed “Racing Capital of the World” is joyfully sharing the Memorial Day spotlight with two of its beloved basketball teams: the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever, showcasing the city’s deep-rooted love for hoops.
Throughout Indianapolis — even near the iconic Brickyard on Gasoline Alley — Pacers banners fly and Caitlin Clark jerseys dot the crowds, adding a splash of basketball energy to the racing festivities.
It’s full speed ahead for what’s now being dubbed “Pacers & Racers” weekend.
“This is an epic weekend, an incredible opportunity to put Indianapolis on the minds of virtually every major sports fan on the planet,” said Chris Gahl, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Visit Indy. “Our early research suggests no other U.S. city has hosted this variety of major sporting events within such a tight timeframe.”
Bob Goshert / USA Today Network
It may be rare on the national stage, but Indianapolis is built for moments like this.
The city has a long track record of hosting major events — from the Super Bowl and two NBA All-Star Games to numerous national and international championships. And now, it adds the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 to that résumé. Even when it took on the unprecedented task of hosting an entire NCAA men’s basketball tournament in a pandemic, Indy delivered — and earned rave reviews.
This weekend’s lineup is another showcase of that experience and passion.
On Saturday afternoon, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will take on the reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty in front of a sold-out crowd — a marquee matchup early in a season filled with promise for a team led by one of the league’s brightest stars.
Then on Sunday, an estimated 350,000 fans will pack the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy 500 — with grandstand tickets sold out for the first time since 2016. And the night will finish at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Pacers host the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
It’s just the fourth time in history that an NBA playoff game falls on race day. The Pacers dropped all three of the previous matchups — to the Knicks in 1999, the Pistons in 2004, and the Heat in 2013 — and ultimately lost each series. Now, the team and the city are hoping for a new outcome on a weekend already packed with history.
The off-court and off-track headlines have added even more intrigue to an already packed weekend — from the Team Penske cheating scandal and the WNBA’s investigation into alleged racist remarks directed at Angel Reese after a Fever game, to pole winner Robert Schwarzman’s public call for international peace. Even the Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles rolled into town on Friday, adding a quirky touch to the spectacle.
In a state where iconic athletic moments are often born from either basketball or auto racing, this weekend feels like a natural fusion — especially for locals. Just ask Ed Carpenter, IndyCar team owner-driver, lifelong Pacers fan, and stepson of former Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George.
“I think it celebrates the city, the people who live here, and the fans who make the pilgrimage to the race,” Carpenter said. “Having all these other events happening at once just makes it that much more special.”
Michelle Pemberton / USA Today Network
Ed Carpenter hopes to be in the stands for Sunday night’s Pacers game — even if he’s fresh off a win at the Indy 500. And he’s far from alone. In Gasoline Alley, a growing wave of crossover fans is embracing both basketball and racing.
Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon and three-time 500 winner Dario Franchitti showed up for Game 3 of the Pacers-Cavaliers series. Former driver and current broadcaster James Hinchcliffe was in the crowd for Game 2, while Kyle Kirkwood, Colton Herta, and Marcus Ericsson caught Game 2 against the Bucks.
Even Scott McLaughlin, a proud Knicks fan, has skin in the game — literally. He’s placed a friendly wager with Carpenter on the series and might make it to Sunday night’s tip-off, assuming he’s not too busy celebrating with a bottle of milk in Victory Lane.
“How’d that go?” fellow driver Alexander Rossi asked after the Pacers pulled off a thrilling Game 1 win on Wednesday.
“Real bad — we lost the unloseable,” Scott McLaughlin replied with a grin. “We had a solid bet going. If the Pacers win in six games, I’m on the hook to buy up to $2,500 worth of his coffee or whatever java he wants. If it goes to seven, the bet’s off — or I win.”
Red Carpet Treatment
It’s not just the Pacers and racers getting the star treatment this weekend. Film director and Knicks superfan Spike Lee is expected to take his usual courtside seat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, while his longtime on-court rival, Reggie Miller, will be calling the game for TNT. As for the racing elite, it’s still unclear how many will make the short 15-minute trek—traffic permitting—from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the arena. For fans hoping to experience both events firsthand, two tickets could set you back close to $4,000.
Kyle Larson, attempting a rare racing double by running the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s 600-mile race in Charlotte on the same day, has already taken part in the broader sports celebration. He attended the Indiana Fever game Tuesday night, soaking in the atmosphere.
“Outside the car, it’s definitely been more hectic this year, especially with logistics,” Larson said. “I had a full media day in New York and then had to fly back here. But going to the Fever game was a blast.”
Mike Marot / AP
The curiosity and excitement go both ways.
Three years ago, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton got his first taste of IndyCar, riding in a two-seater with the legendary Mario Andretti. Just last weekend, Fever head coach Stephanie White — a proud Indiana native — made her return to the Speedway, while center Aliyah Boston, the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, experienced the iconic 2.5-mile oval for the first time.
“Being out on the track and seeing how fast the cars go—and meeting Colton—was pretty dope,” Boston said. “The track is massive. Colton was telling us all the things that could fit inside it, and it’s just wild. You don’t realize how big it really is until you’re standing there.”
Bottom Line
According to Chris Gahl, hotel rooms across Central Indiana are nearly impossible to find, with availability stretched from Lafayette to Bloomington—each about an hour from Indianapolis. In the heart of downtown, rooms are going for around $550 a night with a three-night minimum stay, and scoring a restaurant reservation is just as tough. Local vendors are cashing in on the excitement too, selling blue-and-gold “Zoom Baby” shirts—a clever nod to the late Bob “Slick” Leonard’s iconic “Boom Baby” calls after Pacers’ three-pointers.
With so much packed into a 36-hour stretch, the Pacers, Fever, and IndyCar drivers are all sticking to the same game plan: stay locked in, tune out the chaos, and savor the moment.
“You’ve got to enjoy it—let the pressure and excitement go, and just focus on what’s right in front of you,” said Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard. “This should be fun.”
