In part 3 of this series we describe the various seating views on the outside of the south end of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The south end of the Brickyard covers slightly more than a mile of track and includes the Southwest Vista, the South Vista, Grandstand G and the Southeast Vista.
RESERVING YOUR SEATS: At the Brickyard 400 all seats are reserved. But if you want to reserve the same seat year after year, you must purchase your tickets from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) directly. Getting on the renewal list requires you to not only purchase your tickets from the IMS, it also requires you to purchase your tickets each year right after the race. Once you get on the IMS ticket purchasing list you can also ask to be placed on the list to upgrade your tickets as better tickets become available.
It may take many years before you earn the right to purchase prime tickets, but if this is your goal, you better get started now. The IMS will allow you to reserve your seats for your lifetime and then they will allow you to pass your renewal rights to your children. They will not, however, allow your children to pass it down to their children.
GRANDSTAND INFORMATION: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway offers grandstands on the inside and the outside of the track. All grandstands on the inside of the track end with Terrace in its name. Grandstands on the outside of the track include Vistas, Paddock, Penthouse or a Grandstand with a letter in the name. The IMS has removed all infield grandstands in the turns. If your seating chart shows grandstands on the inside corner of the speedway, it is outdated. See the updated seating chart at the Brickyard 400 Seat Photos on this website for an updated seating chart. The following list provides detailed information about each grandstand at the speedway.
SOUTHWEST VISTA: The views from the Southwest Vista located at the end of turn 1 at the south end of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway provides a view of turn 1, the short chute and turn 2. The seating in this grandstand is bench style with no backs . There is no roof covering these grandstands. As with most other grandstands at the Brickyard, the best views are up high in the stands. You must have seats in the double letter rows in order to have a good view of the track. There is no view of the front straightaway from this grandstand. The closest parking to this grandand would be the Main Gate Lot and Lot 2.
SOUTH VISTA: Sitting on the outside of the track between turns 1 and 2 is the South Vista. This grandstand provides views of Turn 1, turn 2 and the short chute. No view of the front straightaway or the back stretch is possible from these seats. The seats are bench style with no backs. There is no roof structure covering this grandstand. The closet parking to this grandand would be Main Gate Lot and Lot 2. Double letter rows offer the best view of the track. Seating in the single letter rows have a somewhat less expansive view of the track and are partally constructed by the catch fence.
GRANDSTAND G: This grandstand sits on the outside of the track in the south short chute. The seats in this grandstand are bench style with no backs and there is no roof covering the seats. The Main Gate Lot and Lot 2 would probably be the closest parking lots. The best views are high into the grandstand. This grandstand is somewhat smaller, height wise, than the South, SW and SE Vista grandstands. From this grandstand you can see turns 1 and 2. Views from the seats in the single letter rows are more constructed by the catch fence.
SOUTHEAST VISTA: This grandstand sits in Turn 2 on the outside of the track. The seats in this section are bench style seats with no backs. There is no roof covering this grandstand. Best views of the track from this grandstand will be found in sections 17, 18, 19, and 20 high in the double letter rows. The Main Gate Lot and Lot 2 would probably be the closest designed IMS lot. Views from the single letter rows are somewhat obstructed by the catch fence.