Tight security being planned at speedway
Fans attending the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday can expect security to be as tight as or tighter than it was for last year’s 100th running after the suspected terrorist bombing in England and the announcement that Vice President Pence would attend the race.
Besides the large presence of officers from federal, state and local agencies, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security is urging spectators to be hyper-vig- ilant of suspicious activity at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Among its suggestions: Visualize worst-case scenarios, identify emergency escape routes and arrange for a meeting place with family and friends in case of an attack.
Indiana State Police Capt. Dave Bursten said Tuesday that security would be comprehensive, but he declined to discuss specifics: “That security will be seen and unseen. But part of a good plan is not sharing specific details that could educate the very element that seeks to do harm.”
Sgt. John Perrine also said public awareness is a crucial com- ponent in the safety precautions. “We would rather investigate a tip that turns out to be false than to have a visitor dismiss something unusual and say nothing,” Perrine said in an email.
Track security chief Mike Bates could not be reached immediately for comment.
Pence, the former Indiana governor, will fly to Indianapolis for the race, a source confirmed Tuesday to The Indianapolis Star. His role in Sunday’s festivities has not been revealed.
The racing spectacle, which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, comes on the heels of an explosion at a concert in Manchester, England, by pop idol Ari- ana Grande. At least 22 people were killed in that attack. The Islamic State claimed responsibility, and the suspected bomber blew himself up.
A handful of security measures were added at last year’s historic 100th running of the Indy 500, when a record crowd of 300,000 attended.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department provided license plate scanning as vehicles entered the speedway to catch stolen vehicles and people wanted by police. Check-in points were added to some of the busiest gates, adding a “secondary perimeter.”
Regular safety precautions in- clude inspecting each person and vehicle entering the speedway and searching cars at random with bomb-sniffing dogs. In addition, all bags and coolers are searched.
For three years, the Indianapolis 500 has earned a Level 2 Special Event Assessment Rating from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, allowing the Indy 500 to receive federal help to support security efforts. Only about a dozen events each year, such as the Super Bowl, get that rating.