It could be a close call whether or not the Indianapolis 500 gets underway Sunday afternoon without any hitches. With the possibility of a shower or thunderstorm dampening the track, the race could end up being delayed or shortened. The rain date for the race is Memorial Day, and even that day has the possibility of showers and thunderstorms.
The reason for the potential showers and thunderstorms has to do with two weather systems. One will be a cold front stalling across the Ohio Valley, and the other will be the moisture from a system that has hit Florida this week. If the front can have enough push to it, dry air will come in, and Sunday will be a nice day for the race. If the front just stalls over Indianapolis, then Sunday and Monday can be wet days.
A wet track would either delay or even shorten the Indianapolis 500. Conditions have been so poor in some years that the finish of the race had to be rescheduled for a later date, most recently in 1973, 1986 and 1997. Just in 2007, the rain-shortened 500 had several rain delays before the race was called after heavy rainfall brought about a multi-car accident after 163 of the 200 laps were completed.
The 93rd annual running of the "greatest spectacle in racing" is scheduled to begin this Sunday, May 24 at 1:00 p.m. in Speedway, Ind.
Story By AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.
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