Violent storms raise red flag at NASCAR’s Brickyard 400

Violent thunderstorms caused NASCAR officials to pull out the red flag at the Brickyard 400 on Sunday afternoon.

The theme of wet weather that started Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway continued for Sunday afternoon with the return of showers and thunderstorms.

A thunderstorm capable of causing damaging winds took aim at Indianapolis and prompted NASCAR officials to halt the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 shortly after it started.

Spectators were urged to seek shelter prior to the thunderstorm's arrival.

“The track will take up to two hours or more to dry, so any storms that move in will increase the threat that the storms will stop racing for Sunday or cause the race to be shortened,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With inclement weather approaching, the red flag is out at <a href="https://twitter.com/IMS">@IMS</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brickyard400?src=hash">#Brickyard400</a> <a href="https://t.co/2z55F4sJz5">pic.twitter.com/2z55F4sJz5</a></p>&mdash; NASCAR (@NASCAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/889198774375067648">July 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Thunderstorm activity is likely to lessen during the evening hours.

If the race is delayed long enough, drivers will then be racing against the setting sun.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Track drying has begun <a href="https://t.co/BykzTYyKxx">pic.twitter.com/BykzTYyKxx</a></p>&mdash; Steve O'Donnell (@odsteve) <a href="https://twitter.com/odsteve/status/889208894538600448">July 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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“There are no lights at the speedway,” Reppert said.

If the race gets postponed until Monday, a drier day and less humid day will await drivers and spectators.

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