Here’s a rundown of some of the key elements you need to pay attention to if you’re thinking of or planning to attend this year’s Milwaukee IndyFest, or, as its known by its full race name, the ABC Supply Co. Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee IndyFest Presented by the Metro Milwaukee Honda Dealers. The event is promoted by Andretti Sports Marketing:
The race weekend schedule:
Linked here, via the Milwaukee IndyFest website.
Driver appearances/places to go:
A driver appearance schedule, as compiled by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ace motorsports reporter Dave Kallmann.
A round-up of places to go and events to hit when in Milwaukee, per The Set-Up Sheet’s Steve Wittich.
Here’s more information on Thursday night’s celebrity driver bartending event, plus Friday night’s IndyFest Street Party and the Racing for Kids benefit event, Beer, Cheese & Charity:
How many people can say that their favorite IndyCar driver has served them a beer?
Thursday, Miller Time Pub & Grill will host the second annual Bartender Challenge from 5-6PM. IndyCar drivers Justin Wilson, Josef Newgarden, Jack Hawksworth, Simon Pagenaud, and Mikhail Aleshin will tend bar, competing for tips that will go to Racing For Kids-Official Charity of Milwaukee. Also joining them will be Molly Menard of NVL Pro Beach Volleyball and Sue Black of the Milwaukee Wave.
On the IndyFest Street Party:
The IndyFest Street Party will be rocking from 5-10PM across from the Hilton City Center downtown. Meet your favorite drivers at autograph sessions and enjoy interactive displays with your family before racing really gets going on Saturday. Also at the IndyFest Street Party will be Beer, Cheese & Charity-a special event to benefit Racing For Kids. Participants will be able to enjoy a VIP Beer Garden, silent auction of one-of-a-kind racing memorabilia and experiences, and meet & greets with select IndyCar drivers.
On the race weekend itself, which begins with testing Friday for Indy Lights and Pro Mazda and a full day Saturday:
For tickets and more information, visit milwaukeeindyfest.com
More information on what Honda, which is a presenting sponsor of the race by way of the Metro Milwaukee Honda Dealers, is doing:
H-BLOCK – A Honda Fan Section will be present, which is a section that is dedicated to Honda fans; special Honda and Honda Racing/HPD branded pom-poms and sunglasses will be given out.
Honda On-Track Ticket: Honda guests will be receiving TWO laps in the Official Pace Car (instead of the customary one lap) as well as merchandise. The Official Pace Car this race will be back to the Honda Accord for the Milwaukee event, but then back to the HPD CR-Z for Sonoma; the CR-Z premiered at Mid-Ohio two weeks ago.
Social event previews:
If you’re a fan of reporter predictions and bobbling heads (you’ll gain a further appreciation of why I’m a web reporter and not an on-camera person), then you’re in for a treat with this social media preview of the event I did with the Milwaukee Social Club (hint: it also includes my win pick, so you can hold me to that this weekend). Pippa Mann, who’s much more camera savvy and can better offer both a driver and regular radio analyst opinion, also did one too.
Hinchcliffe’s knock-knock joke for kindness:
James Hinchcliffe got two tickets to give away for IndyFest, and gave them away to the fan who came up with the best knock-knock joke. Here’s your winner:
Michael Andretti on Milwaukee’s history:
A good video from IndyCar with Michael Andretti, on the history and value of the Milwaukee event:
Pre-race post roundup? Look out for that tomorrow:
We’ve done a wealth of behind-the-scenes and pre-race posts ahead of Milwaukee IndyFest. If you missed any, or if we missed any in this post, we’ll hit that on Friday.
