Fans should come early, watch ESPN ‘SportsCenter’ live at IMS May 28-29

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ESPN's signature news program, "SportsCenter," will originate live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 28-29 and fans are encouraged to arrive early – particularly on the Indianapolis 500 Race Day, May 29 – to witness the exciting broadcast.

ESPN "SportsCenter on the Road" anchors Matt Barrie and Sara Walsh will be live in the Pagoda Plaza, behind the Panasonic Pagoda, on Race Day from 8-9 a.m. and 10-11 a.m. when ABC's live coverage of the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil begins.

Lindsay Czarniak, a regular "SportsCenter" anchor, will host the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil pre-race show on ABC.

Barrie and Walsh will also provide live reports from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 9-10 a.m. "SportsCenter" broadcast on ESPN2.

On May 28, Barrie and Walsh will host a three-hour "SportsCenter on the Road" from the Pagoda Plaza from 9 a.m.-noon.

"The morning of the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is going to be electric, full of memorable activities paying tribute to this American institution, and having ESPN 'SportsCenter' here to capture it is just icing on the cake," said IMS President Doug Boles. "Given the historic sellout for the 100th, fans should plan to come early to the Pagoda Plaza and enjoy what will be a very entertaining broadcast of America's best sports show."

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway's public gates open on Race Day at 6 a.m. IMS officials are encouraging fans to leave early for the race this year, given the complete sellout of reserved seats and general admission tickets. Fans should plan to be patient with law enforcement, IMS employees and fellow fans as an international crowd makes its way into the Speedway for the historic race.