I have been coming to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS)
for the Indy 500 for over ten years. When I first came, I was with my parents
and would/could only go where they would go. Most of those places were not
great for taking pictures, but I would make the best of where I was at. Now
that they don’t accompany me anymore, I have the freedom to try different
places. Although, I am sad that they do not come anymore!! I watched the
professional photographers move around anywhere they wanted and I was jealous.
I started to look at how I could get one of the “professional” photographer’s
vests. It doesn’t seem like it would be easy to get one, so I will have to be
happy with where I can get access. Besides, I like the shots that I am getting,
but I would not turn a vest down!! So, this Guide is going to be where freelancers
can get access. I do have a Bronze Badge, so I can get some limited access to
spots where ticket holders cannot get to. I will list those places as well.
Before I start this, I must let you know that I will be
sitting in my seat for the race. During the race, I will only take a few shots!
I am in Row A (against the rail) in the Paddock Penthouse. I want to watch the
race!! I do not show up for Race Day only. I am in Indianapolis for the
qualifying weekend through the race. On the days that the cars are practicing,
I get my shots of the cars on the track. On most days, the practices can be
more entertaining and have more passing than the race. Besides, the USAC events
and the Little 500 that occur that week are excellent! I probably take more
pictures on those events than at IMS!
I had done an internet search for photographing the Indy 500
and there were a few sites that gave some suggestions, but they were not very
helpful – somewhat helpful, but not really helpful. I decided that I would
spend some time looking for good spots and put it out there for other amateurs
that want the same information. I don’t mind sharing what I found (I may regret
this when I cannot get to my favorite spot!). I view this as a living document
and will update as I find new spots.
I will post the place and the required camera/lens
information for each spot. I shoot with a Canon EOS 5D Mk IV for all action
shots. I sometimes use a Canon 6D for when I am in Gasoline Alley (the garages).
It is useful to have a second camera with a Wide-Angle lens at the ready. My
lenses are:
1)
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM – for action
2) EF
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM – for action
3)
EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM – for fun shots
4)
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM – for general shots
5)
EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM – for close-ups
6)
EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM – for general
shots
Canon Professional Services (CPS) is there on the Qualifying
weekend and Race Weekend. I am a member and can loan equipment for the day. I
usually grab a Canon EOS 1DX and a newer EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. This
allows me to play around with the “latest and greatest!” I usually try the
newest mirrorless cameras, as well.
Paddock Penthouse
I will start with where I sit on Race Day. I am in Section B31
in Row A. I have a great view of the exit of Turn 4 and the Entrance of Turn 1.
Across from me are several big screens, so I get to see all the action
elsewhere on the track. When it comes to pit stops, there are several pit
stalls that are easy to photograph without the catch fence in the way. Now, for
action on the track, once a car exits Turn 4, I have the catch fence in front
of the cars until they are starting through Turn 1. As much as I love shooting
the cars, I love this perch to watch the race!! On Race Day, I am a fan with a
camera!!
I use the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. Sometimes I
will use a 1.4X Extender, rarely I will use the 2X Extender. I think the 2X
will allow me to get pictures of Victory Lane on the new Victory Podium Stage.
We must see how that goes this year!
Paddock Press Penthouse
Back in the day, newspapers would send reporters to cover
the race and they had their own special area. It was called the pressbox. It
looks like it hasn’t been used for that in many, many years!! It is now open
for anyone. I like this spot, as it is covered and secluded. Not many people
know about it and it can be pretty empty most of the time. It is a great place
to sit on a hot, sunny day.
It is not a great place to shoot because the track has a
catch fence blocking the track area. You can still get some good shots here,
but they will have the fence in it!
I use the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM here.
Gasoline Alley Suites Grandstands
(on top of the suites) – next to the Pagoda
This is my favorite place to shoot!! Hands down my favorite
place!! I grab the spot next to the gate that could let you into the Pagoda. On
Qualifying Weekend, there may be a dozen or so photographers there.
Actually, it is the landing at the top of the stairs, with
the Pagoda on the right and the grandstands on the left. There is about twenty
to thirty feet of usable railing for shooting. What makes this spot great is
there is no catch fence between the cars and this spot. If you get the timing right,
you can get the cars right before they cross the Yard of Bricks!! I love those
shots! The only drawback is that you have the antennas from the pit boxes
sticking up. Because Pit Lane has a break at the Pagoda, there are no pit boxes
and it is mostly free of antennas! That makes this a great spot to shoot from
for the Yard of Bricks shot. The race series has their box right by the Yard of
Bricks. It is the only one to watch out for!
Another challenge is panning at a car that is going over 220
mph! You can pick up the cars right around where the pit entrance starts and
follow them past the Yard of Bricks. I find that I can get several good shots
in a row and then I lose the smoothness for a few shots before I pick it back
up again. I find that it takes a lot of skill to get consistently good
pictures. After a few hours here, my arms get tired (really tired!)!!
The IndyCars have their Qualifying Photos done on Pit Lane
right after they come in from their run. I can see them down pit road from me,
but the driver’s back is towards me. However, the Indy Lights have theirs done
by the Pagoda. From where I stand, I am just above the line of sight of the
photographers. My shots look like the official photos!!!
I use the Canon EF 100-400mm
f/4.5-5.6L IS USM here.
Gasoline Alley Suites Grandstands (on top of the suites)
– next to Turn 1
I also love this spot. There is a Handicap platform here
that gives great access to Turn 1. During the Qualifying Weekend, the Yellow
Shirts may shoo you out of there, but you can get part of the way in. Other
times, you can walk right in. This is a great place to catch the cars entering
Turn 1.
I use the Canon EF 100-400mm
f/4.5-5.6L IS USM here.
Stairway next to Gasoline Alley Suites at Turn 1
This would be a great place for catch the vintage cars that
are going slowly. I tried to catch the Indycars here, but you cannot acquire
them fast enough to pan them through the turn. You can hear them coming, but
you can only see the cars once they clear the suites that jut out and cover the
Front Stretch. The stairway is to the side and back in from the suites. By the
time I had them steady in the viewfinder, they were already exiting the turn!!!
There are two levels to use here. I like the lower because it gets you lower to
the track. Again, you can use this for parade laps.
I use the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM or EF
70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM here.
Tower Terrace next to Pagoda
I did not spend much time here. I will assume that these
observations would be the same for all the Tower Terrace. The Gasoline Alley
Suites Stands by the Pagoda works because there is a break in the Pit Lane and
is clear of antennas. At the Tower Terrace, there are antennas all along the
north side of Pit Lane.
I use the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM here.
E Penthouse – Box 1 or 2 – Row A
I wanted a spot where I could get the cars coming towards me
and this was a great spot. I was here for the last day of Qualifying and it was
hard to get a spot in Row A. I will come back to this area again. I would actually
like to be able to use the photographer’s hole in the fence, but I don’t have a
vest. This is the next best thing! You can see all the way up the Front Stretch
and there is no catch fence between your camera and the cars!
I use the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM here. I tried
a few shots with 1.4X Extender on the lens. I experimented with the 2X
Extender, but you have to pre-focus and hope you catch the car in the focus
spot!!!
Victory Lane
Before the Victory Podium Stage was
upgraded, Victory Lane was just below the stage. For the Indy 500, it was a mess
of people crowding around the car when it pulled in! The only view for you to
get was on the big screens! I could try to capture the Indy 500 winner, but I
might get a partial view, if I used an Extender. The Indy Lights is a different
story. If I can get to the rail on the side of the Tower Terrace, I can shoot
down into the driver/car!
We will have to see how the new Victory Podium Stage will
change the viewing.
I use the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM here.
Pit Lane
On the Monday Practice, Bronze Badge holders can get access
to Pit Lane. If you can get between pit boxes, in an empty stall, you can get
good pictures. I am not sure of the rules, some Yellow Shirts will let you go
up to Pit Wall and shoot and some others will keep you behind the while line.
One of my favorite shots was from the white line into Marco’s car. I got him
between pit equipment. I loved that shot!
I use the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM,
or EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM.
Gasoline Alley
The Bronze Badge will get you into the garages, except on
Race Day. I try to get in here as often as I can. Sometimes I get to play fan
and get my picture with a driver. I have been doing this less in the last
couple of years. I love to capture work going on with the cars. The Arrow
McLaren SP Team is excellent. They have their cars turned sideways so you can
see the side of the car. All the other teams show the rear of the car! Another
good shot is of the cars going through Technical Inspection. Usually they shoo
you away from the exit, but you can jump in for a quick shot. It depends on how
busy they are.
I use the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM,
or EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
When my parents came with me to the race, we did not want to
wait in traffic after the race. We would go and spend an hour or so in the
museum to let the traffic subside enough that we would have a nice, traffic-free
ride to the hotel. I did that for a few years after they stopped coming. When I
was there in 2019, the museum closed early and I missed seeing the exhibits. I
will not do that again. Now, I will visit mid-week to make sure that I see the entire
museum! This is not to be missed!
I use the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM,
or EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM.
Turn 3
This may or may not be a spot to shoot from. I saw a
reference that indicated fans could get to a hole in the fence. If it is, I
would love to be there. I walked the fence a little here and saw a
photographer’s hole that you could use if you had a vest. I saw no way I could
get there, legally! I will investigate the next time I visit.
Back Stretch
I think that there is a break in the catch fencing and it
may be a spot to shoot from. I will investigate the next time I visit.
Turn 4
I assume that you can only shoot here if you have a
photographer’s vest. I will investigate the next time I visit.
Turn 1
Other than the Gasoline Alley Suites
Grandstands, I think that you need a photographer’s vest to shoot here. I
will investigate the next time I visit.
Typical Shooting Plan
I get in early, so I can start in Gasoline Alley. I want to
get pictures of the cars as they move through technical inspection. The teams
are busy getting the cars ready and those are good pictures. Sometimes, you can
see the drivers. Usually, they come out for signing autographs and getting
their pictures taken with the fans.
Even on Race Day, I will wander through the Pagoda Plaza to
people watch. I usually will eat here almost every day that I am here. When I
am looking for a shaded area to sit, I come here! There are performers and
bands that use the plaza.
I like to start with the Gasoline Alley Suites Grandstands
by the Pagoda. I will spend the first part of the practice or Qualifying here
to get the shots that I want. After a while, I walk through the Gasoline Alley
Suites Grandstands to shoot the cars entering Turn 1. If there is a break in
the action, I will quickly move to the outside of the track and go to the E
Penthouse – Box 1 or 2.
I finish up the day with another walk through Gasoline Alley.
Depending on who is fixing crash damage or making changes for the next day,
there can be some busy garages.
#IMS
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