INDIANAPOLIS -- Sunday, we will wave the checkered flag for the next winner of the Indy 500. Driving in the race at speeds over 200 mph is challenging enough, but the weather has been known to add its own obstacles over the years.
Here are some of the extremes drivers and fans have had to deal with:
We all know May can get pretty hot. In 1937, we had our hottest Indy 500 on record. Temperatures made it into the 90s that day, with an official high of 92 degrees. Remember, the track temperature runs several degrees higher! Certainly a hot job for drivers that year.
On the flip side, May can also come with cool spells. The coolest afternoon on a race day happened in 1992. That's when we didn't even make it out of the 50s. Race fans were dressing in layers with a high of just 58 degrees. However, the coldest start to an Indy 500 actually came in 1947 when the day started off at 37 degrees.
Rain is always one of the top concerns when it comes to the race day forecast. Being spring in Indiana, rain has played a role in the outcome of the race many times. Rain has actually shortened the race seven times, most recently in 2007. The race was stopped twice that day and called after 166 laps. 2004 was actually the wettest year though. Nearly four inches of rain fell that day. The race also had to be stopped twice that year and was called after 180 laps.
So, what does the forecast look like for the 102nd running of the Indy 500? At this point, rain is in the forecast. The question is how widespread will it be? Also, what's the most likely time for rain? We'll get a better handle on this as the week goes along. If we're lucky, maybe we can even keep things dry. Stay tuned to StormTeam 6 for updates.
