INDIANAPOLIS — The CDC’s new guidelines on COVID restrictions when it comes to masks sent a shockwave through the country as many mask restrictions were being allowed to expire.
In Indiana, the guidelines, along with a change in state law, ended mask mandates in all but one Indiana county. Marion County’s mask mandate is still in place by the vote of the Indianapolis City-County Council. Last week, Mayor Joe Hogsett recommended that the council end the mandate at its June 7th meeting.
Hogsett opted not to encourage the council to convene a special session to end the mandate immediately.
“June 7th would get us beyond one of the largest events, if not the largest event in the world since the start of the pandemic, this year’s Indianapolis 500,” said Hogsett
This decision appears to have irked many people, and even drivers taking part in the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500.
“I’m just here because I want to say something about the mayor,” driver Ed Carpenter mocked in a press conference after a practice session last week. “I thought we were following CDC guidelines (that fully vaccinated people don’t have to wear masks).”
That’s all Carpenter would say on the matter.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles has been mostly silent on the recommendation from Mayor Hogsett. But, he told 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan on Sunday after qualifying that the decision does not change anything about mask policies at IMS this month.
“Had he lifted (the mandate) it would’ve been nice, then maybe we would have said it was recommended,” Boles said. “But, at this point in time, he’s in the same spot that he was when we made the decision (to require masks). So nothing has really changed for us.”
Boles reminds race fans planning to attend the Indy 500 that masks are still required to be worn when you are not eating or drinking. He said there will be mask ambassadors walking around the grandstands reminding you of the rules.
