The Indianapolis 500 is bringing back one of the biggest names in sports to lead the chaotic festivities of this year’s Snake Pit.
Super Bowl champion and former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski will serve as the Snake Pit grand marshal May 24 for the second year in a row at the Indianapolis 500. German DJ Zedd will lead up the notorious EDM party at Turn 3, with electronic artists Crankdat, Wooli, it’s murph and Wax Motif rounding the lineup.
Gronkowski, who won championships with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, called the Snake Pit “one of the coolest combinations of sports and music out there,” in a news release from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“I had to come back to keep the party going and celebrate the biggest race in theworld,” Gronkowski said in the release.
The 500 has also confirmed ’90s alternative favorites Counting Crows will lead Carb Day on May 22 with fellow alt group Switchfoot opening. The list of locks also includes a three-peat national anthem performance from “American Idol” alum Jordin Sparks, Oscar winner and Indianapolis native Brendan Fraser as the race’s honorary starter and Indiana Pacers Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard as grand marshals for the May 23 Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade.
How to get tickets to the Snake Pit
General Snake Pit packages, which include admission to the race and the pit, are on sale for $145. VIP packages, which allow pit and race admission and include access to a special viewing platform and exclusive amenities, are on sale for $280. Isolated Snake Pit wrist bands, which only allow general or VIP access to the pit and don’t include race admission, are available for $80 and $220.
Patrons must purchase gate admission, either through the Snake Pit package or as a separate Indy 500 race day ticket, to access the Snake Pit. All attendees must be at least 18 years old and prepared to show proper identification, according to the IMS website.
Snake Pit set times for Zedd and more
The Snake Pit DJs, docked at the infield stage at Turn 3 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will spin throughout the morning of the Indianapolis 500’s 110th running and beyond the race’s start at 12:30 p.m. Check out the set times for the all-day party:
Contact IndyStar Pop Culture Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@indystar.com. Follow her on X @hmb_1013.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 brings back former NFL star as Snake Pit grand marshal
Reporting by Heather Bushman, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
