The Indy 500 and Indiana Pacers on the same day in 2025? It's happened before

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17-05-2025

Having the Indianapolis 500 and an Indiana Pacers playoff game (the Eastern Conference Finals, no less) seems like a busy day for the area, right?
That would be correct, but it isn't unprecedented. Before this year, when the Pacers will play on Sunday, May 25, in the conference finals, it has happened on three occasions.
May 30, 1999
Kenny Brack won the 1999 Indy 500 by chasing down Robby Gordon, who skipped a late chance to take on extra fuel. Brack earned A.J. Foyt Racing its third 500 victory.
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For the third time, a driver attempted the Double: racing the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina on the same day. Tony Stewart, a Columbus, Indiana native who switched from full-time IndyCar to NASCAR in 1999, finished ninth in Indianapolis and fourth at Charlotte.
The race was completed just before the Pacers took on the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Market Square Arena. The Knicks would win a tight contest, 93-90. Reggie Miller led the way with 19 points. New York won the series in six games.
Before the game, Bob Arnold, who had tickets to both events, was interviewed for a May 30 IndyStar story. He sold the Pacers tickets.
"I go to Pacer games all the time," Arnold said. "The race only happens once a year."
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But Bob Bader, a Pacers season-ticket holder, was determined to see both with his wife.
"It should be a wild and exhausting day, and we're looking forward to it," Bader said.
May 30, 2004
Buddy Rice won the 2004 Indy 500 for Rahal Letterman Racing after 450 miles due to the rain. Rice's victory lane celebration was moved indoors due to severe weather in the area.
According to a May 31, 2024, IndyStar story, a storm hit Indianapolis just as the race was ending. One person was killed during the storms, which caused significant damage. A tornado also severely damaged a nursing home on Indy's southside.
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Like in 1999, a driver attempted the Double. Robby Gordon, who tried to race in both the 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on five occasions, stepped out of Indy during a rain delay in favor of Jaques Lazier and finished 20th at Charlotte.
Later that night, the Detroit Pistons beat the Pacers, 83-65, to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse. Game 5 of Pacers-Pistons was much more popular than the 500 for ticket brokers, according to the Star. Detroit won the series, 4-2.
Buddy Rice (middle) and car owners David Letterman (left) and Bobby Rahal, along with the rest of their crew had to move indoors to celebrate their victory after the track was hit with torrential storms. (Rich Miller)
May 26, 2013
Tony Kanaan was considered one of the best drivers to never win the Indianapolis 500, but that changed in 2013 when Kanaan finally stood in victory lane. It was Kanaan's 12th attempt.
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The Pacers played the LeBron James-led Miami Heat in Game 3 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Miami won, 114-96, to take a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat would win the series in seven games.
According to a May 25, 2013, IndyStar story, having both the 500 and Pacers on the same day brought $64.1 million into the city's economy through out-of-state spenders.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers and racers: 2025 Indy 500, NBA playoffs will happen on same day