INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Brickyard 400 races into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, starting on Thursday with the NASCAR Hauler Parade.

Doug Boles, president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR, says the parade will be the perfect chance to get out with the family.

“It’s a great opportunity to get the family out, just walk up and down Main Street, restaurants, bars, all that’s open,” he said.

The Hauler Parade is on Main Street in Speedway, but the activities don’t stop there. Following the parade, the sprint cars will hit the track for hot laps and races.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever done a sprint car race on our little midget track that we have out there,” Boles added.

With temperatures expected to feel like the triple digits, Boles says fans should stay hydrated and use cooling stations and cooling buses at the track.

“Even drink a beer or two, but you’ve got to make sure you’re drinking those waters.”

The drivers won’t be the only big names on the track.

Cookie Monster from Sesame Street will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Brickyard 400, and then Pacers’ Pascal Siakam will trade in his basketball gear to drive the pace car.

“Having Cookie Monster as our Grand Marshal is pretty exciting, and then Pascal Siakam’s going to come in and drive the pace car. He wants to go to the Indy 500, we don’t want him to,” Boles said. “We want him to keep playing basketball in May, right? So, we don’t need him to come to the Indy 500, (but) getting him in a pace car for the Brickyard 400 is cool.”

Weekend racing events rev up with the Pennzoil 250 at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and continue Sunday with the titular Brickyard 400 at 2 p.m.

Kids 15 years old and younger get into the track for free. You can buy tickets here on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website.

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