At a recent discussion at the track were (from left) Indianapolis Motor Speedway Director of Public Safety James E. Campbell, Indiana State Police Capt. Mark E. Hartman, Speedway Police Chief Jeffrey L. Dine and IPD Deputy Chief Timothy Horty.
Good traffic flow and the safety of the hundreds of thousands of racing fans who converge on Speedway each May are crucial to any running of the Indianapolis 500 -- and they're not cheap.
Three local police departments and the Indiana State Police estimate their race-day tab, for overtime pay and other costs, at a combined $221,000. Throw in qualifications and events such as the Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and the 500 Festival Parade, and the departments' costs increase to more than $400,000 -- with the bill passed on to taxpayers.
More than 800 federal, state and local law enforcement officers will be on the ground May 30 for the 500-Mile Race. They will direct traffic on busy routes to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, patrol the track and work to keep the event safe.
Police officials involved in the planning say they wouldn't think of asking the privately owned Speedway to pay up because the race pumps millions of dollars into the region's economy.
For Mayor Bart Peterson, every penny spent by the State Police, the Marion County Sheriff's Department, and the Indianapolis and Speedway police departments is worth it.
"The race brings us enormous benefit as a city," he said. "To provide those public safety services to them for free is the least we could do."
The event thrusts Indianapolis before a world audience. Without police involvement, the 500 would overwhelm the town of Speedway and put racing fans at risk, said Bart McAtee, deputy chief for the Sheriff's Department.
"You have, depending upon who you listen to, 300,000 to 500,000 people there," he said.
"Without us there, you would have traffic backed up eight hours before the race and eight hours after the race. There would be fatalities. There would be chaos."
A year in the planning
The four departments work together year-round to plan for the race. The consortium also handles traffic and security at August's Brickyard 400 and the U.S. Grand Prix, which was in September last year and will be in June this year.
The FBI, the Secret Service and other federal agencies also are on hand at all three events for anti-terrorism efforts and additional security.
The State Police spend the most during May, with $225,000 in costs, said Capt. Mark E. Hartman, commander of central field operations. About 275 state troopers will begin working shifts at 3 p.m. the day before the race.
Speedway police bear the smallest dollar cost, with $16,000 spent on overtime on race day. Fifty-one regular and reserve officers, who are unpaid volunteers, will work.
"That's my whole department," said Chief Jeffrey L. Dine. He also is chairman of the Public Safety Committee, which includes representatives from each department and federal agency involved in Speedway event planning.
The Sheriff's Department expects to spend about $20,000 on 140 officers on race day, while IPD expects to contribute about 200 officers.
Last year, the cost to IPD on race day was about $46,000 -- but that included more than $11,000 in additional costs related to the Code Orange heightened terrorism alert level in effect at the time, Sgt. Steve Staletovich said. Minus those costs, the city's tab for 500-related events last year was $134,000.
The cost to the city for the Brickyard race last year was $130,000, and the U.S. Grand Prix cost $90,000.
IPD provides traffic control for hundreds of events every year, most without charge. Indiana Pacers games at Conseco Fieldhouse average $1,040, while last August's National Governors Association Conference cost IPD nearly $600,000.
Benefits outweigh costs
Officials from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the city and other organizations say any costs incurred pale in comparison to the benefits of the race.
The most recent account of the 500's economic impact, a 2000 study by Indiana University and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, estimated the event adds $336.6 million to the Central Indiana economy every year. Combined, the Speedway's three races bring in $727 million, the study said.
"No other venue, event or attraction has generated more to Indianapolis' economy and to its positive image," said Bob Bedell, president and chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association.
The security operation at the Speedway will begin the night before, when teams will sweep the entire facility and then lock it down overnight.
The most that fans will notice on race day are random checks of backpacks and coolers, Dine said, as well as uniformed officers spread throughout the Speedway.
But more will happen outside the public's view. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the operation has expanded beyond simple traffic and crowd control.
The FBI is tight-lipped about its involvement. Agent Wendy Osborne, media coordinator for the Indianapolis office, said its focus would be on terrorism prevention. Plainclothes FBI agents will be stationed around the Speedway on race day.
"We are mindful of large-scale public gatherings that terrorists may target," Osborne said. "In cooperation with our partners in law enforcement, we attempt to ensure the safety of all."
By many accounts, the four police departments run a model operation for the 500.
"I can tell you from firsthand experience that they are the best, absolutely hands-down," said Eddie Gossage, president of the Texas Motor Speedway, a 7-year-old facility in Fort Worth. He sometimes comes to the Indianapolis 500 as a fan.
"I wish every racetrack handled traffic as well as they do."