NASCAR to run Xfinity race on Indy road course
On Wednesday, in his first major move since buying the iconic facility, Penske announced the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indy on July 4 will use the track's road course. The Cup Series race, the Brickyard 400 scheduled for July 5, will remain on the track's 2 1/2-mile oval.
"Sitting down with the NASCAR team and our team, we said what can we do to make this Brickyard weekend different?" Penske explained just nine days after officially closing on the track purchase. "We want our fans to look at this and see if this something they want so we can grow this in the future. And it's going to put on some great racing."
Attendance for NASCAR races has been a particular concern at IMS since the 2008 Cup race, which turned into a series of 10-lap shootouts followed by competition cautions because of tire wear. Speedway President Doug Boles and the previous track ownership, the Hulman-George family, tried just about everything to win back fans.
"Sitting down with the NASCAR team and our team, we said what can we do to make this Brickyard weekend different?" Penske explained just nine days after officially closing on the track purchase. "We want our fans to look at this and see if this something they want so we can grow this in the future. And it's going to put on some great racing."
Attendance for NASCAR races has been a particular concern at IMS since the 2008 Cup race, which turned into a series of 10-lap shootouts followed by competition cautions because of tire wear. Speedway President Doug Boles and the previous track ownership, the Hulman-George family, tried just about everything to win back fans.