Tips for beating the heat at the track

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) - Wherever you go this weekend, be careful! It's going to be hot, very hot, with sun and humidity adding to your discomfort. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is already making plans to try to keep fans out of danger from the heat.

Even on a partly cloudy day Monday, with the temperatures in the 70s, the heat coming off the ground was more than 95 degrees. When the air temperature is in the 90s, the heat will be even more brutal. So for those at IMS on Sunday, as you head to your seats this weekend, look for a place to take a break.

"Without going inside, the coolest spots are going to be underneath the bleachers or in shade with some of the trees, especially along the backstretch. They'll be some areas that will be pretty cool," said Doug Boles, spokesman for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Finding some shade makes a big difference. In fact, using a temperature gauge on Monday, 24-Hour News 8, found that getting into the shade dropped the temperature coming off the ground from above 96 to the low 70s.

With more the heat on the way IMS is bringing in dozens of extra mobile misting stations.

"Probably somewhere between 60 and 75 misting stations throughout the grounds, so there will be plenty of them, both in the infield and on the outside of the track," Boles said.

You can also head inside. The track's retail stores offer an opportunity to get out of the sun. And the Speedway museum will be open, but you have to pay the admission fee. And while the fountain outside the museum looks inviting, stay away; fountain jumping is not allowed.

Water, however is important. Boles advised fans to start drinking it before you get to the track.

"It's just like the drivers. The drivers will start hydrating early that morning. They'll be taking on a lot of liquids while they're driving. We just want our fans to do the same thing, to make sure they stay hydrated," Boles said.

Alcohol, however can dehydrate you, so as always, make moderation the rule. And when you pack your cooler, add a towel to the mix. You can soak it in melted ice and cool down.

The main track hospital and 15 satellite treatment centers will be open. They expect to treat more than a thousand people, with most of those problems heat-related.

IMS is also working with the department of public safety to see if cooling buses will be available for race fans.

The hottest race ever was in 1937, when it was 92 degrees. Last year it was 88 on race day, tying for the ninth-hottest race in history.