Indy 500 likely to have earlier start time in 2011: An earlier starting time for the Indianapolis 500 to accommodate drivers wishing to compete in it and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 on the same day is likely to happen, Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Jeff Belskus said this week. "We're inclined to change our starting time," Belskus said. "We do want to try to make it happen." Belskus said ABC, which owns television rights to the 500, has been consulted and hasn't indicated it would oppose a switch to 11 a.m. from the current 1 p.m. The idea gained momentum in May when Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., proposed putting up a $20 million bonus for any driver who could win both races on the same day. Smith and Indy Racing League CEO Randy Bernard were asked about the status of their negotiations last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "We've had some dialogue on some big ideas," Bernard said as Smith nodded his assent. Neither would elaborate.(Indianapolis Star)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Attendance likely way down at Indy: While not divulging numbers, outgoing Indy track President Joie Chitwood said IMS is not immune to the economic realities that have produced an alarming number of empty seats (official attendance is not made public) at nearly all of this season's first 19 races. "We're going to be down, like just about every other venue out there," Chitwood said. But with a smile, he noted that because of the Speedway's enormity (257,000 permanent seats), it could have 100,000 go unused and still boast NASCAR's biggest crowd of the season. "Trust me, we'll have a lot of people here," Chitwood said. (Indy Star)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Allstate to leave as Brickyard title sponsor: Allstate and Indianapolis Motor Speedway are ending their five-year title sponsorship arrangement for naming rights to the NASCAR race at the track. It was run Sunday for the final time as the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Speedway spokesman Ron Green said it's unlikely a replacement will be sought and the race will return to its former name as the Brickyard 400. Allstate, in a statement, cited "stronger (results) in other properties" for not renewing its sponsorship.(Indy Star)
Monday, July 27, 2009
Newman: Stock cars aren't made for Indy: Ryan Newman is not a fan of racing at Indy: "(Indianapolis Motor Speedway) is just flat and it's fast. Our race cars aren't made for that. Our race cars aren't designed for that. They designed this race car to put it on a racetrack, and it works here, it just doesn't put on a great race." (Indy Star)
Did you know? Indianapolis Motor Speedway can hold 40 Yankee stadiums: With a seating capacity of 250,000-plus and situated on more than 1,025 acres, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, host of the Nascar Brickyard 400 on Sunday, is big. Just how big? According to a Speedway official, the property could hold about 40 Yankee Stadiums, or 12 Wimbledon tennis campuses or two Vatican Cities. As it turns out, about 180,000 people were on hand to see Jimmie Johnson win the race. (Wall Street Journal)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
No discussion of changing Indy 500 start time: For those hoping that the Indianapolis 500 might change its start time to encourage drivers to be able to do both the IndyCar Series race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, think again. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Belskus, who oversees both the IRL and the race track, said Tuesday during a news conference at the track that he has had no discussions about changing the start time since taking over the position three weeks ago. The Indianapolis 500 start time likely would have to change from its recent 1 p.m. EDT slot for it to be possible for a driver to do both events. It would be hard for Lowe's Motor Speedway to start the NASCAR race later than 5:45 p.m. because of the length of the 600-mile race, which takes more than four hours to complete. (SceneDaily.com)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Indiana governor gets VIP treatment at Indy: Sam Hornish Jr. and Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials hope Monday wasn't a bad omen as NASCAR rolls into town for Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Shortly after giving rides in a modified stock car to Gov. Mitch Daniels and Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, Hornish's Mobil 1 Dodge broke a clutch, littering the backstretch of the track with debris. That ended the promotional effort intended to hype the 400. Normally, that wouldn't be a major concern, but the event needs some good karma after last year's Goodyear tire debacle. That race, won by Jimmie Johnson, was overshadowed by tires that didn't last more than 10 or 12 laps. (Indy Star)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tyler Hansbrough to serve as grand marshal at Indy: Indiana Pacers 2009 first-round draft pick Tyler Hansbrough will serve as grand marshal for the 16th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 26. Hansbrough, a 6-foot 9-inch forward selected with the 13th overall pick in the NBA draft, also will wave the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' mid-summer classic at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(PR)
Monday, June 15,2 009
NASCAR CEO says Brickyard 400 tickets are selling well: Brian France said reports of lagging ticket sales for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard had been "overstated by far." Robin Miller of SpeedTV.com recently reported that Indianapolis Motor Speedway might draw a crowd of 100,000 for the first Sprint Cup event since last year's debacle in which tire issues forced cautions every 10-12 laps. Indy typically has drawn more than 230,000 fans annually during its first 15 NASCAR races. "People are buying tickets much later in the cycle," France said. "Our fans are waiting. They're all nervous. We understand that. They're waiting to figure out if we can get the track correct, which we will." (USA Today)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
More tire testing planned at Indy: NASCAR expects to have at least two more Goodyear tire tests at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the Allstate 400 there in late July. Last year, NASCAR had to throw the caution every 12 to 13 laps during the race so teams could change tires and reduce the risk of tire failures. The tire rubber, instead of adhering to the track, turned into rubble and dust, causing a grating effect on the tires that eventually would cause them to blow. “Our tentative plan is [for] at least two more tire tests at Indianapolis,” NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said Thursday during the Sprint Media Tour. “We’ve made some great strides. I think they’ve got the tire picked that they need. “We’re going to go back, and do, if not a development test, maybe start to do confirmation tests. There will be at least two of those.” (SceneDaily.com)
