Pacers and Racers: Indianapolis 500 and NBA Playoffs collide

Pacers and Racers is a beloved term among Indianapolis locals. This term is coined for when the Indiana Pacers play a home playoff game on the same day as the famous Indianapolis 500.

Related: Pascal Siakam, Pacers take commanding 2-0 lead in Eastern Conference Finals

The Indianapolis 500 has been going on since 1911. The Pacers have been around since 1967 when they were founded in the old ABA.

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Indiana joined the NBA in 1976, making this season their 49th. Despite all of this time, only four times have the Pacers played a home playoff game on the same day as the Indianapolis 500.

Fans are going crazy in Indiana, as they get to enjoy two incredible sporting events. With the Pacers facing their fierce rivals, the New York Knicks, the energy in Indiana will be electric.

The race started at 12:45 PM EST, while the NBA game will tip off at 8:00 PM EST. Alex Palou won today’s race, as he passed Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps remaining and held him off for the victory.

As for the Pacers, they are looking to go up 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. This would almost certainly mark their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000.

Fans are certainly enjoying their historic Pacers and Racers day, and a win against the Knicks tonight would be the perfect ending.

About the Author Published May 25, 2025

TITAN FREY

Titan Frey is a dedicated father to three wonderful children, whom he takes immense pride in. His passions include reading, writing, basketball, both playing and watching, and playing chess. Titan spent five years working as a journalist for the basketball website fadeawayworld.net, where he served as editor-in-chief for four and a half years. One of his most notable achievements was interviewing Chuck Cooper III, the son of Chuck Cooper, the first African American ever drafted by an NBA team, and writing a biography that has been praised as the most definitive article about Cooper’s legacy. Titan is the author of more than ten novels and the screenwriter of three produced short films. His newest young adult novel, Echoes of the Hardwood: Braxton Foxworthy’s Time‑Travelling Book Report, blends basketball history with heartfelt storytelling and is now available. Order here: https://a.co/d/bo7BYz1