Seeing Indianapolis Motor Speedway from a plane
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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Opened in 1909, the 2.5-mile oval holds about a quarter-million people, the largest seating of any sports venue. Look for the golf course holes inside the oval.
39 of our routes pass it. Indiana
The easy pick
Indianapolis to Houston: sit on the left, on the climb, 1 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore to Indianapolis | Left | on the way down |
| Chicago to Indianapolis | Right | on the way down |
| Fort Lauderdale to Indianapolis | Right | on the way down |
| Houston to Indianapolis | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| Indianapolis to Austin | Left (the right side is better for the whole flight) | on the climb, 1 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Houston | Left | on the climb, 1 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Destin | Left (the right side is better for the whole flight) | on the climb, 1 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Alexandria | Right | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Nashville | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Boston | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Baltimore | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Dallas | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Washington | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Dublin | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Newark | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Key West | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to New Haven | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Washington | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Houston | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to New York | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to New York | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Punta Gorda | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Philadelphia | Left (the right side is better for the whole flight) | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to St. Petersburg | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Fort Myers | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to San Diego | Right | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Salt Lake City | Right | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Indianapolis to Tampa | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Kansas City to Indianapolis | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| Miami to Indianapolis | Right | on the way down |
| Nashville to Indianapolis | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| New York to Indianapolis | Left (the right side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| Philadelphia to Indianapolis | Left (the right side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| Phoenix to Indianapolis | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| Salt Lake City to Indianapolis | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| San Diego to Indianapolis | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| Seattle to Indianapolis | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| Washington to Indianapolis | Left | on the way down |
| Washington to Indianapolis | Left | on the way down |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day. Where the best seat for the whole flight is on the other side, you'd trade this sight for more elsewhere.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Indianapolis Motor Speedway from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (26 of 39). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Indianapolis Motor Speedway from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Can you see Indianapolis Motor Speedway at night?
Yes, by its lights. The app scores lit places at night by how bright they are.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis Indianapolis International Airport Meadow Lake Wind Farm Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Baltimore (BWI) Indianapolis (IND) Chicago (MDW) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) All routes