INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Nabors was back home in Indiana today.

Heart trouble kept the crooner and actor who played Gomer Pyle from singing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year. Today, hundreds of thousands of fans welcomed back the 77-year-old for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500.

"It's always the main part of my year," the 77-year-old Nabors said just before singing. "I look forward to it more than anything.

"It just thrills you to your bones."

Nabors now makes his home in Honolulu.

The Speedway doesn't divulge attendance, but fans packed the bleachers and grandstands and filled the infield inside the 21/2-mile track.

Former Indy 500 champion Arie Luyendyk said the crowd was the biggest he had seen in years. He said it's a different feeling being a spectator.

"I woke up this morning thinking I'm pretty relaxed now," he said. "It's just awesome to be here."

Several celebrities at the track, including Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, echoed that sentiment.

Actress Jenna Elfman rode in Saturday's pre-race parade and attended the SnakePit Ball.

"Today's the real deal," she said. "When those cars get started, and everyone's heart gets pumping, that's what it's going to be about."

For regular folks, getting to the track for the first Indy 500 since the reunification of the two American open wheel racing series proved tough. Traffic choked roads near the Speedway hours before the race's 1:11 p.m. start.

T.J. Perry, of Carmel, Ind., said it took him nearly twice as long to make it to the track this year because of the clogged roads.

"It's just great to see a lot of people out here at the race, the tradition of the Speedway," said the 33-year-old Perry, as he sipped a beer a couple of hours before the green flag waved. "It's good to see reunification, now we just need to see a great race."

First-time visitors Rodrigo Iglesias of Indianapolis and Alddo Molinar of Cleveland took time to cruise past rows of Chevrolet Corvette pace cars parked in an infield parking lot.

"We're pulling for Danica," Molinar said.

"'Cause she's hot," his buddy added.

"It'd be good to have a girl win this thing, actually," Molinar said.