INDIANAPOLIS – In a tribute to fans unable to attend the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, the 33 starting drivers made surprise visits to longtime event ticket holders in the neighborhoods near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday to thank fans for their support.

The unique pre-race celebration saw the drivers in 2020 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS convertibles in front of 33 different homes throughout the Town of Speedway. While adhering to local health protocols, the drivers delivered overflowing gift bags from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar, Pepsi and Miller Lite, among other event partners.

The event followed the annual Indy 500 Drivers’ Meeting – held virtually this year – and included a parade of the red convertibles down Speedway’s Main Street, where drivers saluted an enthusiastic gathering of local residents and employees and patrons of local businesses.

Longtime Speedway resident Brenda Hamm, who owns 16 race tickets, got a visit from pole winner Marco Andretti and his famous grandfather, Mario Andretti, the race’s 1969 winner. Fittingly, the car’s license plate read “No. 1.”

“Utter surprise and excitement,” Hamm said. “I’ve lived here more than 30 years, parked cars and made breakfasts for people on race morning but this …”

One of Hamm’s first reactions was to have the Andrettis sit in her white front porch chairs.

Said Marco: “We’ll be back for dinner.”

The Andrettis will be honored at the start of Sunday’s race. Mario will drive Honda’s two-seater Indy car with his son, Michael – Marco’s father – riding in the back seat, putting three generations of one of racing’s most famous families on the track at IMS together for the first time. The two-seater is part of the ceremonial pace laps to begin NTT IndyCar Series races.

Pre-race for the 200-lap event begins on NBC at 1 p.m. (ET), with Central Indiana fans able to view the race live on WTHR-13 in its entirety for only the third time in its history.

The field is expected to take the green flag at approximately 2:30 p.m. NBC and the Pennzoil IndyCar Radio Network will have the coverage locally and nationally.