<P> The two to three weeks of practice and qualifying leading up to the Indianapolis 500 is known in racing circles simply as "the month of May (at Indianapolis)". In early years, the track traditionally opened for practice on May 1 (regardless of the day of the week). This practice dated back to 1911 . The policy was typically to make the track available for practice no later than May 1, although in most years, few if any competitors would be on the grounds yet . In some years, the track would be available for practice and testing as early as April . For instance, in 1932, cars began to arrive on April 6, and in 1969, the first day of practice was April 28 . In very early years, it was not uncommon for the track to be closed on Sunday during practice, or be open for only competitors with the gates were closed to the public . In 1974, due to the energy crisis, the schedule was reduced, and the track opened instead three weeks before race day . The change was well - received, and the new schedule was made permanent, with various tweaks over the years . </P> <P> In 2014, a second race at Indianapolis was introduced to the IndyCar Series schedule, conducted on the track's road course . The new event is held two weeks before the 500 . </P> <P> The race has always been scheduled in conjunction with Memorial Day . Through 1970, the race was held on Memorial Day proper (May 30), regardless of the day of the week, unless it fell on Sunday . In those cases it was scheduled for Monday May 31 . After the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect in 1971, the race was scheduled as part of the three - day Memorial Day weekend instead, either the Saturday, the Sunday, or the Monday . Since 1974, the race has been scheduled for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and has been held on Sunday with only two exceptions due to rain delays . </P> <P> Sundays were avoided for scheduling race activity dating all the way back to pre-500 races in 1909 and 1910 . In early decades, Sundays were occasionally used for practice and / or qualifying, but were used sparingly in pre-World War II years . In some early years, practice may have been permitted on Sundays, but the gates might not be open to the public . When Tony Hulman bought the Speedway after World War II, Speedway management continued to refuse to schedule the race on a Sunday, a policy that stayed in place through 1973 . Qualifying and practice, however, were regularly held on Sundays during those years, with no days closed to spectators . </P>

Has the indy 500 ever been rained out