Aerial view of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the NASCAR Brickyard 400

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fan Guide: Cooler Policy, Bag Rules and What to Bring (2026)

July 16, 2026

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fan Guide: Cooler Policy, Bag Rules and What to Bring in 2026

Part of the Happy Hour Racing Track Fan Guides, our plain-English rundown of what you can and cannot bring to every NASCAR Cup Series track.

Aerial view of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval, home of the NASCAR Brickyard 400 — Photo: Kimaz2412, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Brickyard 400 brings the Cup Series back to the most famous 2.5-mile oval in racing on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Bubba Wallace is the defending winner after a wild double-overtime finish in 2025. If you are heading to Speedway, Indiana for the race, here is exactly what you can carry through the gates, what has to stay in the car, and how to make the day easier. All of the policy details below come straight from the official Indianapolis Motor Speedway gate regulations for the Brickyard race weekend.

The Short Version

Coolers: allowed up to 18" x 15" x 15", hard or soft-sided.
Bags: purses and bags are allowed and are searched at the gate. No clear-bag rule. Oversize bags are turned away.
Food and drink: outside food and drinks are welcome, including water, soft drinks, beer and wine, as long as no container is glass.
Leave home: glass, weapons, drones, selfie sticks, bikes and scooters, fireworks, and anything oversize.

Cooler Policy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

IMS has one of the friendlier cooler policies in the Cup Series. You can bring a cooler as long as it is no larger than 18 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches. Both hard-sided and soft-sided coolers are allowed, so a soft bag cooler or a small hard cooler both work fine. That is enough room to pack a full day of drinks and food for one person and then some.

The one place a cooler cannot go is the pit area. Credentialed pit access does not allow coolers, alcohol, or smoking, so plan to keep your cooler in your grandstand seat or your infield or lot setup, not on pit lane.

Bag Policy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indy does not run a clear-bag rule, which sets it apart from a lot of stadiums and some other tracks. Purses and bags are permitted, and every bag is searched at the gate, most gates using metal detectors. Camelback-style hydration packs are specifically allowed, which is a nice touch on a hot July afternoon. The limit is common sense: oversize bags are on the prohibited list, so leave the giant duffel or rolling bag behind and bring a normal backpack, tote, or purse.

Prohibited Items at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

These are the items IMS will turn away at the gate. There is no bag check to hold banned items, and you cannot leave them at the gate, so anything on this list has to go back to your vehicle:

Glass containers of any kind
Weapons, knives, firearms, and ammunition
Drones and any remote-flying devices
Fireworks and flares
Aerosol cans (sunscreen is the exception)
Selfie sticks and flagpoles
Coolers larger than 18" x 15" x 15", and oversize bags
Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller blades, hoverboards, golf carts, and ATVs
Lasers, stickers, scaffolding, trampolines and pools
Illegal drugs, and offensive or obscene materials
Animals, except service animals trained to work for a person with a disability

Security can also refuse anything else they judge to be a safety hazard or a nuisance to other fans, so when in doubt, leave it in the car.

What You Can Bring Into Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The permitted list is long, which is part of what makes an Indy race easy to pack for. On top of your cooler and outside food and drink, you can bring:

Binoculars, scanners, and headsets to follow the radios and broadcast
Camelback hydration packs
Personal cameras and camera stands, tripods, and monopods (stands are not allowed inside the grandstands or concert areas)
Carts and wagons to haul your gear, though use may be limited in some areas
Strollers, lawn chairs, and folding camping chairs (standard-height chairs are not allowed in the VIP and Concert Pit areas)
Flags that do not block other fans, and umbrellas that do not obstruct views
Mobility aid devices and service animals

Remember the glass rule applies to drinks too. Beer and wine are fine, but they have to be in cans or non-glass containers.

Grandstands, Seating and Track Layout

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a 2.5-mile rectangular oval with four distinct, nearly flat corners connected by long straights and two short chutes. That shape is why passing at Indy is all about the run off the corners and down the straights. The start-finish line sits on the famous Yard of Bricks, the last strip of the track's original brick surface, and winners still climb out to kiss the bricks. The Pagoda control tower rises over the front stretch and is the easiest landmark for finding your way around.

Diagram of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval layout with its four turns

Image: Stl66dmk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Pagoda control tower along the front straightaway at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — Photo: rbnlsn, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The main grandstands run the length of the front stretch on either side of the Pagoda, with additional stands in the short chutes and the turns. Because the grandstands are so long and so tall, take a photo of your section and row before you head to concessions so you can find your way back. Camera stands and standard-height chairs are not allowed inside the grandstands, so pack a seat cushion instead if you want padding on the aluminum.

Getting There and Race-Day Tips

The track sits in Speedway, Indiana, just northwest of downtown Indianapolis. Traffic around a Brickyard weekend is heavy, so the golden rule is to arrive early. Give yourself extra time to park, walk in, and clear the gate search, especially if you are carrying a cooler and chairs. Late July in Indiana runs hot and humid with a real chance of an afternoon shower, so sunscreen, a hat, and a poncho or umbrella belong in the bag. Smoking and vaping are not allowed in the seating areas, only in designated spots at least 20 feet from buildings and seating entrances.

Bring cash and a card both. Many concession and merchandise points at large venues run card or mobile payment, so a card keeps you covered, while a little cash is handy for lots and vendors outside the gates. Cell service can bog down with a big crowd, so screenshot your mobile tickets before you leave the hotel.

Fan Tips for the Brickyard 400

Pack the cooler smart. Freeze your water bottles overnight so they double as ice and thaw into cold drinks by mid-afternoon.
Bring a scanner or a good pair of earbuds and a radio app. Indy is huge, and hearing the spotters changes how you watch the race.
Wear closed-toe shoes. It is a lot of walking on concrete and asphalt.
Set a meeting spot with your group near a landmark like the Pagoda in case phones stop working.
Save the official gate regulations to your phone before you go so you can settle any what-can-I-bring debate at the car.

Common questions about Indianapolis Motor Speedway

What size cooler can you bring to Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

You can bring a cooler up to 18 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches, and it can be hard-sided or soft-sided. Coolers are not allowed in the pit area.

What is the bag policy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Purses and bags are allowed and are searched at the gate. There is no clear-bag requirement, but oversize bags are prohibited, so bring a normal backpack, tote, or purse.

Can you bring food and drinks into Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Yes. Outside food and beverages are permitted, including water, soft drinks, beer, and wine, as long as no container is glass. Cans and non-glass containers only.

Are chairs or seat cushions allowed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Lawn chairs and folding camping chairs are allowed in general areas, but not in the VIP or Concert Pit areas, and standard-height chairs are not allowed inside the grandstands. A seat cushion is the safe choice for grandstand seats.

Are umbrellas allowed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Yes, umbrellas are permitted as long as they do not block other fans' views. A poncho is a good backup for tight grandstand seating.

What items are prohibited at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Prohibited items include glass containers, weapons, drones, fireworks, aerosol cans (except sunscreen), selfie sticks, oversize bags and coolers, bikes and scooters, lasers, and any illegal drugs. There is no gate check to hold banned items.

Are cameras and scanners allowed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Yes. Personal cameras, binoculars, scanners, and headsets are all allowed. Camera stands, tripods, and monopods are permitted in general areas but not inside the grandstands or concert areas.

The Bottom Line

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the easier Cup tracks to pack for: a generous 18" x 15" x 15" cooler, no clear-bag rule, and outside food and drink as long as you skip the glass. Bring the cooler, a normal bag, sunscreen, a poncho, and a scanner, and leave the glass, weapons, drones, and selfie sticks at home.

Policies can change from year to year and gate rules can be updated close to race weekend, so confirm every detail on the official Indianapolis Motor Speedway gate regulations page before you travel: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Brickyard gate regulations. For questions, the IMS Ticket Office is at 317-492-6700, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.