Indy 500 fans give new traffic roundabout thumbs up, say it helps speed traffic along

Ryan Hunter-Reay, left, Takuma Sato, of Japan, center, and Jack Hawksworth, of England, signs helmets before the drivers meeting for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (The Associated Press)

Jordin Sparks sings the national anthem before the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Sam Riche) (The Associated Press)

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis 500 race fans say a change in this year's traffic flow outside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a good idea that's helped speed traffic along.

This year's race is the first time many race fans encountered a new, two-lane roundabout that routes traffic through the intersection of 16th Street and Crawfordsville Road outside the track.

Traffic "roundabouts" ease drivers into turn circles with no traffic lights and Dave and Freda Dalton of Knightstown, Indiana, passed through it without incident.

Freda Dalton says the change was a good idea "because it keeps everybody going" instead of stopping for traffic lights.

But Dave and Jena Huffman of Fort Wayne intentionally avoided the roundabout when they arrived with their 26-year-old son Cameron. They said they didn't want any surprises during their commute.