From cake to cans, the story of the Indy 500 through trash and the volunteers clearing it

Near the front of the stage in the muddied grass in what Sunday was the Snake Pit, there's something so innocuous, so utterly unrecognizable that if you blinked, you might miss it.

It's a sheet of cardboard with an unmistakable frosting stain. And are those cake crumbles near the edge? Indeed.

Yes, it's without question a pseudo-celebrity sighting — while we couldn't officially get comment from the cake itself, it's likely one that Snake Pit performer Steve Aoki tossed into the crowd just 24 hours ago during the Indy 500 concert in Turn 3 of the speedway's infield.

Seems about right and symbolic for the day after Memorial Day weekend's greatest party.

This unfortunate relic of what was once a moderately delicious baked good was just one of the signs of a good time left behind. There were boxes, clothing items, wrappers, bags, many smashed French fries, and of course, cans.

So, so, so, so many cans that once contained a tasty beverage or two the day before. Like, enough to recreate this TikTok 500 times. 

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It was a welcomed sign to race organizers to see IMS packed with people Sunday after two years of COVID-19 restrictions limiting the crowd, and it was downright expected to see it filled with a lot of trash left behind the next day.

The place wasn't totally abandoned.

A smattering of volunteers dotted the stands, around 750 in total, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials. That can appear infinitesimal in a racetrack that held around 325,000 fans the day before.

Volunteers from schools, churches come to help

Nonprofit groups helping to clean up on the Monday after the race is a yearly tradition. Each year, groups will pile out to the track as early as 7 a.m.

"Our fans were so excited to be back in full capacity this year and helped us keep the grounds clean throughout the Month of May by taking advantage of the expanded recycling and waste diversion efforts throughout the property," IMS President Doug Boles said in a statement.

"Our post-race volunteers are a key part of our post-race tradition as they help collect the trash and recycling left behind by such a large crowd," Boles continued. "It’s a great fundraising opportunity for groups, and we appreciate the support from our community."

The nonprofit groups aren't working for free, though. Their groups get money, the price of which is determined and assigned to each stand based on the staff requirement to clean the area.

In addition to church and school groups, the Department of Corrections brought incarcerated individuals to clean up. This practice was implemented for the first time last year, according to IMS officials. The DOC participants cleared both the stands and the trash in the Snake Pit.

The DOC splits the funds that are earned for helping with cleanup efforts between the victims' fund and an hourly rate for the participants, an IMS official said.

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Jim Hostetler, a former teacher and current class sponsor at Liberty Christian School in Anderson, has been volunteering at the cleanup since they started the current ecology program, around 1998, he estimates.

Hostetler joined some students from the school's class of 2023 Monday at the track. He's been doing this a long time; he knows the drill. Every time he's come, he's been in the H and J stands, for "Jim Hostetler," he joked.

One year, Hostetler found a deputy sheriff's wallet, the most unusual item he's seen. He did call the owner and mail it back.

The school is raising money for their mission trips. Each student will likely pick up $90 to $100 to go toward their mission funds, Hostetler said.

In addition to the payment for volunteering, Hostetler's hoping to make the most out of all those empty beer cans.

"I cannot stand to see cans be thrown away," he said. "Especially right now. Aluminum is sky high."

He's hoping to make between $500 and $600 from trading in aluminum, he said, though he had to drive them home as no one's open on Memorial Day holiday.

Janis and Mary Muncy came to clean up with Carthage Community Church. Janis Muncy has been helping clean up after the Indy 500 for 18 years, and Mary Muncy since she was 16. She's 22 now.

Though the Carthage group arrived around 7:30 a.m., they were already nearly done by 9 a.m. Around 16 people were in their group, and they worked efficiently.

Janis has been to the race before, while Mary Muncy hasn't. Seeing the trash has shaped her opinion of the event.

"It kind of makes you not want to go," Mary Muncy said.

But Janis Muncy disagreed.

"It's a spectacle everyone should see," she said.

Carthage Community Church is always assigned to the section right by the finish line, Janis Muncy said, so the guests have more money to spend, or as she put it, less of a "yoohoo!" crowd.

"I still found Fireball and Jell-O shots," Mary Muncy added.

She said it's improved since she first started coming, though. This year's better than most.

"Right now we go through and pick up all the trash and bring it down the aisles," Mary Muncy said. "We used to just sweep it to the ends and then we'd pick it up because it was just too much."

The weirdest thing they've seen today? Some "Anti Monkey Butt" powder, an anti friction substance. It's impossible to enjoy the race while suffering from chafing, after all.

Janis Muncy estimated that they'd raise around $4,000 for the church by the end of the day, to fund youth programs like Vacation Bible School. From her perspective, getting the Indy 500 trash cleanup gig is a big deal.

"You want to show up and you want to do a good job, because they have a long list of people waiting," she said.

Chris Mauldin came with Solid Rock Baptist Church, in Pendleton. It's his first year cleaning up, though the church has been coming for three or four years.

The church is raising money to send kids to youth camp, and Mauldin said their group was showing their faith by participating.

"It's a good way to help out the community," he said.

For Mauldin, the trash sights have ranged. He was surprised by some of the things left behind, like full coolers.

"People just leave all their personal belongings here," he said, "Pretty expensive stuff ... Nothing too extreme. A lot of chicken bones."

Felicia Brokaw came with the Sanders Temple Church of God in Christ. Their group is raising money for their youth programs.

When asked what her impression of the 500 cleanup was, Brokaw's expression was knowing.

"They had a lot of fun out here," she said.

Robert Underwood is a deacon at the Sanders Temple Church of God in Christ.

"They send our young people out to do the job, so I decided to join," he said.

He didn't come to the race yesterday. He was in church. But he's been before and said the relics are clearly a sign of a good time had.

"Trash is trash," he said.

Ultimately, the volunteer groups are able to raise money for their crowd, and it's a unique way to raise money. If you're lucky, you get out before lunch, with some camaraderie added.

"You bond," Janis Muncy said.

Contact IndyStar trending reporter Claire Rafford at crafford@gannett.com or on Twitter @clairerafford.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Here's the Indy 500 trash that was left behind after race day