during Oval Test on Sunday at IMS

Preparations for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will go into high gear with the highly anticipated debut of the Verizon IndyCar Series superspeedway aerodynamic bodywork packages during an Opening Day test on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval on Sunday, May 3.Speeds on the oval are expected to be faster with the aero kits featuring modifications that will bring renewed innovation and differentiate Chevrolet- and Honda-badged Dallara race cars for fans.Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves leads an impressive list of past winners slated to participate in the Sunday test including defending champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan. Reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power and two-time defending Indianapolis 500 pole-winner Ed Carpenter will also be on hand. Members of the 2015 Indianapolis 500 rookie class expected to participate include Stefano Coletti and Gabby Chaves.General admission tickets are $15, with children 12 and under free. Public gates open at 9:30 a.m.

SCHEDULE (All times local):

Opening Day - Sunday, May 3, 2015 9:30 a.m. Public Gates Open9:30-10:45 a.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Veterans Testing10:45 a.m.- Noon Verizon IndyCar Series Rookies/Refresher Testing11 a.m.-Noon Firestone "Wheel" Pin Distribution (Pagoda Plaza)Noon-1 p.m. Break12:05 p.m. Pit Lane Walk for fans begins - Enter at Panasonic Pagoda, Gasoline Alley, South Pit Gate12:40 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Yard of BricksIndianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, Doug Boles, Derrick Walker

12:45 p.m. Pit Lane Walk Concludes - Exit at Panasonic Pagoda, Gasoline Alley, South Pit Gate12:47 p.m. Pace Car Dedication - Pit Lane Yard of BricksDoug Boles, Derrick Walker, Chevy Representative - Pace Car1 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Practice BeginsIndianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard to wave green flag5 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Practice ConcludesPublic Gates CloseTICKETS: $15, children 12 and under free

HONORARY STARTER: 1 p.m. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard

PROMOTIONS: Firestone "Wheel" Pin distribution begins at 11 a.m. (Pagoda Plaza).

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 9:30 a.m. (local time). Pedestrian gates open are Gates 1B, 2, 4, 6.

STANDS OPEN: A Penthouse, B Penthouse, E Stand, E Penthouse, H Stand (AS NEEDED GA - Sec. 13-24, J Stand, North Vista Wheelchair (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 21), Northwest Vista (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 1-10), Northwest Vista Deck, Paddock Wheelchair (AS NEEDED GA - Box 19-22), Paddock Penthouse (AS NEEDED GA - Box 10-20), South Terrace, South Terrace Wheelchair, South Vista (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 1-5), South Vista Deck (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 1-4), Tower Terrace (AS NEEDED GA - Sec 37 & 79), Tower Terrace Wheelchair, Pit Road Terrace, Wheelchair Accessible, Corner 5, Corner 5 Wheelchair, Corner 7, Corner 7 Wheelchair, Backstretch Family Mounds, Turn 2 (Oval) Mounds, Turn 4 (Oval) Mound, Corner 6 Mounds, Corner 7 Mounds

MUSEUM HOURS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for fans 6-15 years old, with children under 5 free. Gate admission to the Indianapolis 500 is not included in Museum admission and must be purchased separately.

2015 Month of May Schedule

Saturday, May 2 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-MarathonRev: Methodist Health Foundation charity kick-off event at IMSSunday, May 3 Opening Day - Verizon IndyCar Series oval test (aero kits debut)Thursday, May 7 Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis practice (free to the public)Friday, May 8 Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis qualifications Saturday, May 9 Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis Race DayMay 11-14 Indianapolis 500 practiceFriday, May 15 Indianapolis 500 practice - Fast FridaySaturday, May 16 Indianapolis 500 qualificationsSunday, May 17 Old National Armed Forces Pole Day Monday, May 18 Indianapolis 500 practiceWednesday, May 20 IMS Racing Experience & Fan Track LapsDriver Community DayThursday, May 21 Indy Lights practice and qualificationsFriday, May 22 Coors Light Carb DayIndianapolis 500 practiceFreedom 100 raceTAG Heuer Pit Stop ChallengeCoors Light Carb Day concertSaturday, May 23 Legends Day Honoring Al Unser presented by FirestoneFlorida Georgia Line concert presented by FirestoneSunday, May 24 99th Indianapolis 500 Mile RaceIndy 500 Snake Pit presented by Miller Lite ***

2015 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for all racing events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2015 - the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, 99th Indianapolis 500, Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, Lilly Diabetes 250, Crown Royal Presents the "Your Hero's Name Here" 400 at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP.

Fans have three quick, convenient methods to buy tickets:• Online: Visit www.ims.com/tickets. Tickets are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.• Phone: Call 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.• In Person: Visit the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at 866-221-8775 for more information.

Information on parking and camping at IMS events is available at www.ims.com/tickets.