INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Motor Speedway and 500 Festival officials have unveiled the theme for the 89th Indy 500 and the month-long festival that takes place to celebrate this historic race. The theme for the May 2005 Indy 500 Festival is “Accelerate Your Senses.”

“There is no other sensory experience in the world like the Indianapolis 500, so we believe ‘Accelerate Your Senses’ truly captures the feel of the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing,'” said Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway senior vice president, business affairs. “The 500 and all of its surrounding activities are an experience that no one forgets, something that stirs the passions of race fans worldwide. I’m eagerly looking forward to next May.”

The “Accelerate Your Senses” theme will be prominent in local and national Indianapolis 500 advertising and promotional materials and 500 Festival event materials. The theme also will be an important part of the many events that take place in Indianapolis during the month of May, leading up to the 2005 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29.

Those events include the traditional start to month of May activities, the 29th OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on Saturday, May 7 and also include Community Day on Wednesday, May 25 at IMS and the Flagstar Bank 500 Festival Parade on Saturday, May 28. Track activity opens Sunday, May 8, with the 89th Indianapolis 500 scheduled to start at noon (local time) Sunday, May 29.

For more information about the 2005 Indy 500, go to: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

To learn more about the 500 Festival, visit: www.500festival.com.

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