Now that qualifying for the race has ended, it's time to look ahead at the race week schedule for the 2012 Indy 500. The week's events begin Wednesday morning with "500 Festival Community Day" and continue throughout the busy weekend.
A full rundown of the week's schedule follows (all times Eastern):
Wednesday, May 23: 500 Festival Community Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ($8 advance/$10 gate, 6 and under free)
11 a.m. - 500 Festival Community Day Pin Distribution, Pagoda Plaza
11 a.m. - Noon - Firestone Indy Lights Driver Autograph Session, Plaza Pavilion
12:30 p.m. - 1:30pm - Indy 500 Autograph Session #1 Wristband Distribution, MotoGP Garage 36
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Indy 500 Autograph Session #1, Plaza Pavilion
2 p.m. - 3 p.m. - Indy 500 Autograph Session #2 Wristband Distribution, MotoGP Garage 36
3 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Indy 500 Autograph Session #2, Plaza Pavilion
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Indy 500 Autograph Session #3 Wristband Distribution, MotoGP Garage 36
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Indy 500 Autograph Session #3, Plaza Pavilion
Thursday, May 24: Practice/qualifications for the Firestone Freedom 100 (free admission)
9 a.m. - Noon - Firestone Indy Lights Practice
1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. - Firestone Indy Lights Qualifications Begin
2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Vintage Car Laps
Friday, May 25: Miller Lite Carb Day ($20 Admission, 12 and under free)
10:30 a.m. - Q&A with INDYCAR Crew Members, Coke Stage, Plaza
10:45 a.m. - Firestone Pin Distribution, Pagoda Plaza
11 a.m. - Practice Begins
Noon - Firestone Indy Lights Pre-Race Begins
12:30 p.m. - Firestone Freedom 100
1:35 p.m. - IZOD Performance Pit Stop Challenge
3:30 p.m. - Miller Lite Carb Day Concert Begins, headlined by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Saturday, May 26: Legends Day at the Indy 500 presented by Shell V-Power ($10 Admission, 12 and under free)
8 a.m. - Legends Club Opens
9 a.m. - 10am - Autograph Session
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Indianapolis 500 Memorabilia Show - Plaza Pavilion
9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. - Vintage Racing On-Track
10:30 a.m. - Public Drivers Meeting
1:00 p.m. - Indianapolis 500 Veterans Autograph Session "A" Begins
3:00 p.m. - Indianapolis 500 Veterans Autograph Session "B" Begins
5:00 p.m. - Gates Close
Sunday, May 27: The 96th Running of The Indianapolis 500 Mile Race (Admission starts at $30)
7 a.m. - Snake Pit Opens
8:30 a.m. - Parade of Bands
9:25 a.m. - Cars Begin To Enter Pit Lane
9:30 a.m. - 500 Festival Princesses Lap
9:55 a.m. - All Cars To Pit Lane
10:15 a.m. - Cars Begin To Grid On Track
10:40 a.m. - All Cars In Place On Grid
10:50 a.m. - Engine Warm-up
11:00 a.m. - Vintage Car Lap
11:00 a.m. - Indianapolis 500 Pre-Race Begins
11:10 a.m. - Military Tribute Lap
11:30 a.m. - Driver Introductions
Noon - 96th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
For more on the Indy 500, please be sure to visit our blog Pop Off Valve and then come right back to this StoryStream for all the latest news and updates.