This year's Indy 500 could be the hottest ever

INDIANAPOLIS -- If you're coming to the Indy 500 on Sunday, don't forget the sunscreen and water bottles.

Sunday's forecasted high temperature is 93 degrees. The record for the warmest high temperature on race day is 92, set in 1937. The high was 91 degrees in 2012 and 1953. The high has reached 90 degrees or more just six times in the race's history.

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The average high since the race began in 1911 is 77.4 degrees, and the average temperature is 67.3 degrees.

There have been some cold race days, too. The low temperature for the 1947 race was 37 degrees, and it was just 40 degrees in 1966 and 1924.

As for the wettest Indy 500, 3.8 inches of rain fell on race day in 2004 -- more than double the amount of the next-wettest, 1.55 inches in 1981. The start of the 2004 race was delayed for two hours, saw another two-hour delay and ended 20 laps early. Buddy Rice won the rain-shortened race. David Letterman was the co-owner of the car.

Rain shouldn't be a factor on Sunday. There is a 20 percent chance of precipitation, with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible in the afternoon.

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