The Brickyard 400 runs July 24 to 27, 2026, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. NASCAR Cup at the same 2.5-mile oval that hosts the Indianapolis 500. The same venue. A completely different race weekend.
I have been at the speedway every May since 2000 for the Indy 500. I have also been at the Brickyard 400 across many of those years. Here is what to know about planning a 2026 Brickyard weekend, and how it compares to the 500.
The race
NASCAR Cup at IMS is a different discipline than the Indy 500. The cars are heavier, the lap times are slower, the racing style is closer-quartered. The Brickyard 400 produces side-by-side racing at the same venue where the 500 spreads the field out.
The race is roughly 160 laps. The chassis setup is built around the long straights and the four 90-degree turns. The strategy is fuel-mileage and cautions, the same playbook that runs the rest of the NASCAR season.
How the venue feels at the Brickyard vs the 500
The Indianapolis 500 fills the venue. 300,000-plus fans. Every grandstand sold. The Brickyard 400 does not. Crowds at the Brickyard 400 run in the 100,000 to 150,000 range. The venue feels more accessible. The grandstands are emptier. The parking is easier. The walk to the gates is shorter.
For first-time IMS visitors who want the venue without the volume of the 500, the Brickyard 400 is the easier introduction. You see the speedway. You hear the cars. You walk the grounds without the crowd density.
Where to stay for the Brickyard 400
The same four hotel zones from the Indianapolis 500 apply to the Brickyard 400, with one difference: race-week rates are lower and inventory is wider.
- Speedway-adjacent: the Embassy Suites featured in the Racing Passport package, two-room suites, walking distance to the gates
- Downtown Indianapolis: wider luxury inventory than 500 weekend, 20-30 minute drive
- Airport corridor: fast in and out for short trips
- Carmel and Fishers: north of the city, quieter
July weather in Indianapolis is hot and humid. The Brickyard 400 weekend can hit 95 degrees with high humidity. Pack accordingly.
Gates, parking, and the walk in
The Brickyard 400 uses the same gates as the Indianapolis 500. The gates open early on race day. Parking is in the same lots used in May (the Coke Lot, the Speedway lots, the public garages). The walk from parking to the gates is the same.
Because crowds are smaller, gate lines move faster. Security and concessions move faster. The bathrooms move faster. The whole experience is the same speedway at a more manageable density.
The Brickyard 400 weekend rhythm
- Friday July 24: Cup practice, Xfinity series support race
- Saturday July 25: Cup qualifying, Xfinity race
- Sunday July 26: Brickyard 400 race day
- Monday July 27: departure or extension to Indianapolis
The Cup weekend is the headliner. The Xfinity support race on Saturday is a strong undercard. The combined ticket gives you two race-day experiences at the speedway.
What Racing Passport plans for the Brickyard
The 2026 Brickyard 400 package includes:
- Embassy Suites Indianapolis Plainfield, two-room suites
- Race tickets at the Brickyard 400
- Daily breakfast included
- Race-day transfers to the speedway
The Curated Trip is the alternative: the team builds the package around your preferences, hotel zone, group size, ticket selection.
The trip page is at 2026 Brickyard 400. If you have spent time at the speedway in May for the 500, the comparison guide at Indy is Life covers what it feels like to step inside the gates at IMS.
Bottom line
The Brickyard 400 is the more accessible IMS weekend. Same speedway. Smaller crowd. Different discipline. NASCAR Cup racing at the most iconic venue in American motorsport.
If you have wanted to experience Indianapolis Motor Speedway but the scale of the 500 has been the holdup, the Brickyard 400 is the right answer.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Brickyard 400?
The 2026 Brickyard 400 race weekend runs July 24 to 26, with race day on Sunday July 26. Cup practice and Xfinity racing run Friday, Cup qualifying and the Xfinity race run Saturday, and the Brickyard 400 itself runs Sunday afternoon.
Where is the Brickyard 400 held?
The Brickyard 400 runs at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the same 2.5-mile oval that hosts the Indianapolis 500 every Memorial Day weekend. The venue, the gates, the parking lots, and the grandstands are all the same. The difference is the discipline (NASCAR Cup instead of IndyCar) and the crowd size.
How does the Brickyard 400 compare to the Indy 500?
Same speedway, very different weekend. The Indianapolis 500 fills the venue with 300,000-plus fans and the entire Memorial Day weekend is built around the race. The Brickyard 400 draws 100,000 to 150,000 fans, with shorter gate lines, lower hotel rates, and easier parking. NASCAR Cup racing also produces closer-quartered, side-by-side action than the 500.
Where should I stay for the Brickyard 400?
Four zones work: Speedway-adjacent (Embassy Suites Plainfield, walking distance), downtown Indianapolis (wider luxury inventory than 500 weekend), the airport corridor (fast in and out), and Carmel or Fishers north of the city (quieter). July weather is hot and humid, so air-conditioned hotels and shaded transfers matter.
Is the Brickyard 400 family-friendly?
Yes. Smaller crowds, shorter gate lines, faster concessions, and a more manageable walk in compared to the Indianapolis 500 make it easier with kids. The Saturday Xfinity race is a strong undercard for younger fans who may not last all of Sunday.
How early should I book a 2026 Brickyard 400 trip?
Four to six months out is the right window. Race-week hotel inventory is wider than the 500, but Speedway-adjacent properties move first. Starting the conversation early secures the right hotel zone and ticket placement.