The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is on pace to draw a record-setting, sellout crowd May 25 as Indianapolis Motor Speedway general manager Doug J. Boles announced Friday that there's less than 1,000 reserved seating left for the ultimate Crown Jewel.

"Sometime between now" and "the end of practice on Monday" is when Boles and the IMS team expect for the Indy 500 to officially sell out roughly 231,000 grandstand seats. Boles added that "the bulk" of grandstand seating is in turns three and four, the north-end of the 2.5-mile oval.

It's expected to be the first sellout for reserved grandstand seating since the milestone 100th race in 2016. 

Concurrently, the traditional local broadcast blackout has been lifted, allowing Central Indiana residents to watch the race live on FOX. Coverage of the Indy 500’s debut on the network begins May 25 at 10 a.m. ET, with the race starting approximately 12:45 p.m. ET.

“This year’s Indianapolis 500 will host one of its largest crowds in decades, providing a dynamic platform for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment. “This milestone underscores our partnership with FOX Sports and reflects Roger Penske’s ongoing commitment to the event’s legacy.”

The IMS oval, part of the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, anticipates approximately 350,000 attendees, making the Indy 500 the planet’s most attended single-day sporting event. General admission infield tickets remain available. 

FOX Sports is upping the broadcast ante with high-profile, on-air talent. Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will join seven-time NASCAR Cup champ Jimmie Johnson in a two-seater IndyCar that's part of May 25's prerace festivities, while NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan will drive the Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car. NFL star Rob Gronkowski will host the Coors Light Snake Pit.

“FOX Sports is fully committed to INDYCAR,” said Eric Shanks, CEO and executive producer of FOX Sports. “Broadcasting live to Central Indiana with packed grandstands is a thrilling moment for our first Indy 500.”