Ongoing showers and thunderstorms have delayed the start of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, but officials hope to start the race at about 4:30 p.m. EDT, four hours after the race was supposed to start.
According to the latest update, issued just after 2 p.m. Eastern, fans are being allowed to re-enter the speedway after thunderstorms moved through the area.
Speedway workers will still have a monumental task ahead in drying out the 2.5-mile track, a process that could take nearly two hours, according to officials.
According to raceway officials, the decision was made to pause pre-race ceremonies and to evacuate fans from grandstands at the infield Snake Pit prior to the start of the race Sunday, with lightning detected in the area.
The race, originally set to start at 12:45 p.m. Eastern time, was delayed, according to track officials.
Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.
Showers and thunderstorms could threaten the race during the afternoon hours, with a special weather statement currently in effect for the Indianapolis area. Wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour are possible with the storms, with the statement in effect until 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
Sports
Racegoers were encouraged to take shelter in their vehicles as the storms approached, with others taking shelter within the grandstands at the track.
