Editing Indianapolis 500 (section)

===Centennial Era===
[[File:Martin Auto Museum-1963 Chrysler 300-Pace Setter-2.jpg|250px|thumb|The [[Chrysler 300 letter series#1963 300J|Chrysler 300]] pace setter used in [[1963 Indianapolis 500|1963]] in the 47th running of the Indianapolis 500]]
In 2009, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway began a three-year-long "Centennial Era" to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the track (1909), and the 100th anniversary of the [[1911 Indianapolis 500|first Indy 500]] (1911).<ref name="INDY11">{{cite web|title=Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial Era, 2009–2011|url=http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/homepageed2.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528143939/http://in.gov/visitindiana/homepageed2.aspx|archive-date=2010-05-28|publisher=Indiana Office of Tourism Development}}</ref> As a gesture to the nostalgic ''Centennial Era'' celebration (2009–2011), tickets for the [[2009 Indianapolis 500|2009 race]] donned the moniker "93rd 500 Mile International Sweepstakes".<ref>{{cite web |title=Dixon Unveils Ticket For 93rd Indianapolis 500 In Indiana Statehouse |url=http://www.indy500.com/news/13296/Dixon_Unveils_Ticket_For_93rd_Indianapolis_500_In_Indiana_Statehouse |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409115250/http://www.indy500.com:80/news/13296/Dixon_Unveils_Ticket_For_93rd_Indianapolis_500_In_Indiana_Statehouse |archive-date=April 9, 2009 |access-date=May 1, 2016 |website=[[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]]}}</ref> It is the first time since 1980 that the "Sweepstakes" title has been used. In May 2009, the ordinal (93rd) was used very sparingly, and for the first time since 1981, was not identified on the annual logo. Instead, in most instances in print, television, and radio, the race was referred to as the "2009 Indianapolis 500". Since the race was not held during the United States' participation in the two World Wars (1917–1918, 1942–1945), the advertised Centennial Era occurred during the 93rd to 95th runnings. To avoid confusion between the 100th anniversary, and the actual number of times the race has been run, references to the ordinal during the ''Centennial Era'' were curtailed.

In the [[2014 Indianapolis 500|2014]] meeting, the road course became part of the race meeting for the first time. The [[GMR Grand Prix]] road course event, and the three upper tiers of [[Road to Indy]], participated in road course events at the Speedway during the first week of activities.

Six years later, in [[2016 Indianapolis 500|2016]], the race celebrated its 100th running with about 350,000 in attendance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Jenny |last2=Tuohy |first2=John |date=May 25, 2016 |title=Indy 500: What you need to know |url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/05/25/what-you-need-know-before-you-head-indy-500/84900670/ |access-date=July 7, 2021 |website=IndyStar |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615193931/https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/05/25/what-you-need-know-before-you-head-indy-500/84900670/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Four local actors were hired to portray the Founding Four of James Allison, Carl Fisher, Frank Wheeler, and Arthur Newby during multiple Centennial Era events and the 100th race. Harold Hefner (Allison), Tom Harrison (Fisher), Jeff Angel (Wheeler), and Matthew Allen (Newby).<ref>{{cite web |last=Abernathy |first=April |date=May 28, 2011 |title=From Frankton to Founding Four |url=https://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/from-frankton-to-founding-four/article_1a1c907f-6354-5dcf-9475-3aaabbc7da5b.html |access-date=July 7, 2021 |work=The Herald Bulletin}}</ref>

In 2020, the race was delayed for the first time from its usual Memorial Day running to August due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. There was no audience in attendance, so as to comply with pandemic guidelines. The road course race was moved to the NASCAR weekend in July (which led to an IndyCar road course race added to the [[2021 Verizon 200|NASCAR weekend permanently in 2021]]), and the support races on the road course moved to its own September weekend. As races were cancelled because of local restrictions, the Speedway added two more road course races in October as part of the [[Intercontinental GT Challenge]] meeting, where attendance was capped to 10,000 per event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Nate |date=July 18, 2020 |title=Famed Indianapolis 500 race will take place in August |url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2020/07/18/when-is-indy-500-nascar-brickyard/ |access-date=July 7, 2021 |work=NBC Sports}}</ref>

In 2024, the race was delayed for over four hours due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in the area.<ref name="2024indy">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/indy-500-delayed-as-severe-weather-forces-fans-to-leave-indianapolis-motor-speedway |title=Indy 500 delayed as severe weather forces fans to leave Indianapolis Motor Speedway |department=Nation |work=[[PBS NewsHour]] |publisher=[[PBS]] |language=en-US |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=2024-05-26 |access-date=2024-05-26 |first=Dave |last=Skretta |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526223135/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/indy-500-delayed-as-severe-weather-forces-fans-to-leave-indianapolis-motor-speedway |url-status=live }}</ref>