Track Activities Include Health Department Presence
Created on Friday, 18 May 2012 13:06
Contact: Collette DuValle, 317-373-2391
The Indianapolis 500 will take place May 27 and involves a significant Marion County Public Health Department presence in the days leading up to and including the race itself.
What is often called “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” could also be called the “Greatest Spectacle in Eating.”
Visitors to the speedway will consume more than two tanker trucks worth of Coca-Cola products, more than 14,000 gallons of beer products and eat more than 10,00 pounds of Brickyard Burgers.
Ten to 12 Marion County Public Health Department Food Safety Specialists inspect the food establishments at the 2 and 1/2 mile track several times during the event. All food establishments are licensed and inspected 3 or more times. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) holds 46 permanently licensed Food Service Establishments and 13 Temporary Food Service Establishment licenses. These establishments are all run by more than 1,700 volunteers from different not-for-profit groups such band boosters, churches and little leagues. There are an additional 15 third party vendors operating at as many as 125 separate locations inside the track. This includes caterers that prepare and serve all the food for the 120 corporate suites. There are more than 200 licensed food establishments operating inside the track on race day.
In order to serve food at the Motor Speedway, permission must first be obtained from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Concession Department. Each vendor is responsible for obtaining their own license and operate under the guidelines of the Marion County Public Health Department.
Outside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway there are an additional 45 vendors set up along 16th street and Georgetown. These vendors are licensed and inspected by Marion County Public Health Department staff and must meet the same guidelines as the vendors inside the track.
The health department is also responsible for inspecting the bathroom facilities at the speedway.
