PRI Hoosier 500: A December Sim Racing Spectacle for Fans of Indy

Every December, sim racing’s most talented oval pilots gather for an event that feels like something much bigger than a game. This isn’t just a race—it’s a full celebration of history, competition, and the enduring spirit of 500 miles at the world’s most famous race course.

The PRI Hoosier 500, contested on iRacing, has rapidly become the pinnacle of independently-organized sim racing events. Modeled after the pageantry and competition of a certain Memorial Day classic, it captures the emotion and structure of a race that has defined generations—only now in a virtual form.

Founded in 2019, the PRI Hoosier 500 was created to replicate the tradition-rich format of a 500-mile race that’s captivated fans for over a century. The PRI Hoosier 500 isn’t just a race—it’s an homage.

What Makes the PRI Hoosier 500 Great
From the three-wide start to a dramatic qualifying format that spans two days, every element of the PRI Hoosier 500 is crafted to deliver an experience that feels authentic, challenging, and emotionally resonant.

  • 33-Car Grid: Drivers line up in eleven rows of three—a nod to history that you can’t find in the iRacing Indy 500.
  • Two-Day Qualifications: Saturday serves as Pole Day. Sunday is Bump Day. Every driver gets three chances to lock in a spot, and each run you make erases your previous time. Only the fastest 33 make the field – no guaranteed starts here.
  • Zero Entry Fee, and Real Prize Money: Staying true to its roots as a grassroots-driven spectacle, the PRI Hoosier 500 awards a prize purse while remaining free to enter, making it one of the most accessible premier sim races in the world.
  • Open to All, Earned by Few: Despite its openness, this is no casual fun run. Drivers from over 20 countries and nearly 30 U.S. states attempt to make the field. The cream always rises to the top by the end of Bump Day.

The Most Extensive Coverage in Sim Racing
While the PRI Hoosier 500 was built for sim racers, it has quickly become a must-watch spectacle for fans as well. The action mirrors the chaos, drama, and strategy of the most iconic 500-mile race in the world—from fuel gambles and green-flag pit cycles to late-race shootouts and surprise upsets.

Christopher Demeritt crashes at the 2022 PRI Hoosier 500

If you enjoy the tension of inch-perfect racing, underdog stories, and the emotional rollercoaster of Bump Day, the PRI Hoosier 500 delivers it all—live, unpredictable, and broadcast with professional polish.

  • Live Flag-to-Flag Coverage: The main event is streamed on Performance Racing Industry’s Facebook and YouTube platforms, putting the thrill of 200 virtual laps on a global stage.
  • “Today at the 500”: This purpose-made show provides in-depth access to practice, qualifying, and driver interviews—setting the scene for race day just like any great month-long build-up.
  • Professional Presentation and Commentary: With broadcast teams that understand the sport and a field full of compelling personalities, the PRI Hoosier 500 tells stories that matter.

The PRI Hoosier 500 has earned widespread acclaim from some of the most respected voices in the sim racing world. Randy Chenowth of RaceSpot TV called it “the best special event that has ever been held on the iRacing service – and I don’t think it is even close,” underscoring the event’s standout quality among a crowded calendar of online races.

Michele Costantini, a Ferrari esports ace and winner of the inaugural Hoosier 500 echoed that sentiment, praising the event’s structure and professionalism: “This has been the best-organized event I have run in sim racing.” Their praise, among others, highlights the PRI Hoosier 500’s growing reputation as a benchmark for excellence in competitive sim racing.

2025 Event Details
The fifth running of the PRI Hoosier 500 is scheduled for Sunday, December 14, 2025. Registration opens in Se, with the rulebook set to be released in the summer. Competitors are encouraged to join the mailing list here to stay informed.

For sim racers, it’s the most immersive 500-mile experience available anywhere online. For open-wheel fans, it’s a chance to experience a new tradition that echoes one of motorsports’ most iconic institutions—one that’s powered by the same core values: speed, pressure, and pageantry.

In a digital world, the PRI Hoosier 500 is as real as it gets.