Last Row Party

The IPCF’s largest fundraiser, the Last Row Party gives race car fans an opportunity to meet Indy 500 drivers set to compete from the last or 11th row of the Indianapolis 500 race’s starting grid.

MAY 2021 LAST ROW PARTY  CANCELLED

After careful safety considerations, we regret to inform you that we have canceled the 2021 Last Row Party. This saddens us greatly since this is an event we love to host with Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the Pagoda.

Our plan is to sell T-shirts online with the last row drivers’ caricatures. So please be on the lookout for more information about that in mid- to late May.

We cannot wait to look out over the track with all of you and celebrate racing, journalism and Indiana in the way we always have in 2022. Thank you for understanding and let’s have a party of epic proportions next year when the pandemic is well in our rear view mirrors.

Since this event is are largest fundraiser, if you would like to support the next generation of journalists, please click on the red button below. All contributions are tax-deductible.

The event is held in partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the Thursday evening before the race in the 160-foot-high Pagoda, which sits at the dual start/finish line of the Indianapolis 500. In addition to saluting those drivers with live Q&A sessions, we also recognize our scholarship recipients.

One of the Month of May’s most anticipated, fan-favorite events, attendees can eat, drink and laugh as drivers are interviewed and engage with fans at the Pagoda. (The event takes place at 4790 West 16th Street. Visitors enter through Gate 2 off 16th Street.) Last Row Party T-shirts, designed to commemorate the year’s back-row drivers, are also available for purchase at the event.

Recent years’ Last Row Party participating drivers have included such IndyCar stars and even Indy 500 winners such as Alexander Rossi, James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Briscoe, Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ana Beatriz, Sebastian Saavedra and Takuma Sato. All were Last Row Party honorees and instant crowd favorites.

Ticket prices vary, based on early-bird discounting, and included are entertainment and food (cash bars). Attire is casual, and attendees are encouraged to sport checkered or black-and-white attire.