Indy 500 fans undaunted by heat - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Practice day for drivers is party day for their fans. Tens of thousands of them turned out for the show on and off the track.

Jeff Bricker brought a ton of food and a crowd to eat it.

"It's hanging out with your friends. Some good food and good friends," he said.

It's good practice for race day. Temperatures predicted in the low 90s will feel a lot hotter out here.

Officially it is 82 degrees in Indianapolis. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway it is higher than 97 degrees in the sun. If it is that hot in the infield, imagine how hot it will be in the bleachers. That's where we found fans insisting they've heard the medical warnings and vowing to drink less beer.

"You drink one water and one beer, one water and one beer, one water and one beer," said Susie Avenger, explaining her strategy.

Still, that's not what exactly what the Speedway's medical director prescribed.

"I prefer it would be beer, water, water, water. Beer, water, water. But they are thinking in the right direction," said Dr. Geoffrey Billows, IMS Medical Director.

By midday Friday, the medical staff was already treating fans for heat-related illnesses.

Speedway officials fear the weather may also affect race day attendance. They expect ticket sales to be on par with 2011 - as long as there is a lot of last-minute buying.

"A lot of depends on how we fall out on the weekend. Does the heat keep folks away or do they say, 'It is sunny, we'll come out?'" said Doug Boles, IMS.

Indy 500 fans are a tough bunch. They don't let rain, heat or sun spoil a good time. If they don't have it made in the shade, they will pool it in the sun.

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