From IMS
INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 – Indianapolis 500 fans worldwide have debated for decades about which drivers are the greatest in the race’s glorious history.
Now those voices will be heard and counted.
“The Greatest 33” fan interaction platform will give fans around the globe the opportunity to pick their dream all-time starting lineup of 33 drivers for the Indianapolis 500 online at thegreatest33.com from mid-March until early May. The top 33 drivers, based on fan input, will be announced in early May as “The Greatest 33.”
Fans are encouraged to visit thegreatest33.com now to register for early admission to the site before driver selection opens officially in mid-March. The site currently provides a video glimpse of some of the most historic highlights in Indianapolis 500 history.
“There have been 732 drivers to race in the Indianapolis 500 since the inaugural event in 1911, so it’s going to be quite a fun challenge for fans from around the world to select ‘The Greatest 33,'” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. “We’re really excited about this program and its website, which will be an informative, interactive focal point.”
Fans will choose their Greatest 33 from a list of 100 drivers pre-selected by an esteemed panel of international motorsports media. Images, statistics and audio from IMS Historian Donald Davidson will be available for each of the 100 candidates, providing hours of entertaining content and helping fans make those tough final picks.
Fan voters will randomly have the opportunity to win prizes available at thegreatest33.com during the voting period. Fans also can share their personal Indianapolis 500 experiences and memories, including their thoughts about various drivers, at the site and easily share those messages through popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.
“The Greatest 33” is a key fan interaction component of the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 celebration. “The Most Important Race in History” is scheduled for Sunday, May 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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2011 Indy 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500, “The Most Important Race in History,” on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Race Day ticket prices start at just $20. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Children 12 and under will be receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2011 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.