Play Indianapolis 500: The Simulation Online

Indianapolis 500: The Simulation is a racing video game released in 1989 for the MS-DOS platform. Developed by Papyrus Design Group and published by Electronic Arts, it is a track racing simulation based on the Indianapolis 500 automobile race. The game presents the event using 3D polygon graphics to depict the field of 33 cars.

Players control a single race car from a first-person perspective. Before the race, they can select a vehicle and adjust various performance settings. These customizations include wing down-force, tire pressures, wheel stagger for handling banked corners, and turbo output, which affects engine power and fuel consumption. The game features a qualifying session where a player's average time over four laps determines their starting position. Races can be set for 10, 30, 60, or the full 200 laps, with shorter race modes simplifying the simulation by removing car damage and the full-course caution flag system.

During the race, players must manage their car's performance and navigate traffic on the oval track. The absence of damage and caution flags in certain modes can lead to frequent multi-car collisions. The primary objective is to complete the selected number of laps and finish the race, requiring strategic use of car setups and in-race decisions regarding speed and positioning.