Fans snatch up Helio’s $1 TMS tickets quickly
"Helio's Blue Plate Special," in which 300 frontstretch tickets for the Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway were priced at $1, lasted all of 13 minutes Tuesday as fans gobbled up the bargain that was brought to them courtesy of IndyCar Series star Helio Castroneves.
The special, which began at 9 a.m. CT and limited to four tickets per customer, was only available by calling the TMS ticket office or by visiting in person.
"I know of 300 fans specifically that may give Helio a standing ovation when he comes through the stands during pre-race introductions for the Bombardier Learjet 550k," Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. "I was encouraged to hear that 45 percent of those fans who purchased tickets were new customers. It was a tremendous price point in this economy for potentially new fans – in particular families – to experience our sport and hopefully they will get hooked by the experience."
"Helio's Blue Plate Special" was a special promotion that tied the pricing of this limited supply of tickets – 300 in tribute to his car number 3 – to his qualifying performance for the Indianapolis 500. Castroneves responded by winning the pole Saturday and giving fans the best price possible from this promotion.
The ticket promotion theme played off his visit Monday to Dallas, where he received cooking lessons from world-renowned chef Stephan Pyles at his downtown restaurant near the Arts District.
"Wow – 300 tickets in 13 minutes – that's unbelievable," Castroneves said. "The folks at Texas Motor Speedway do a great job to promote our race and our series and always come up with fun ways to involve the fans. I had a great time cooking with Chef Stephan yesterday and was glad I was able to kickoff the 'Blue Plate Special' promotion. I want to thank everyone at the track and especially the fans for all of their support. We are all looking forward to racing there in June and paying back the fans with a great show."