INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY NEWS/RUMORS
Date opened: Aug. 19, 1909
Phone/Tickets: (317) 481-8500
Phone: (317) 492-6700
Phone: 800-822-4639
Shipping address:
4790 W. 16th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Mailing address:
PO Box 24152
Speedway, IN 46224
Track Specs:
Superspeedway: 2.5 mile quad-oval
Banking: turns: 9 degrees, 12 minutes
Straights: Front/Back - 3300 feet, Short Shute (between turns 1 and 2/3 and 4) - 660 feet
Seats: 252,189
Capacity: ~350,000
Websites:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Brickyard 400
ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide
Dan's Indianapolis Motor Speedway Homepage
- the 4 or 5-time winners at Indy:
Driver' Wins, Races, Laps Led, Years Won
A.J. Foyt, 4, 35, 555, 1961-1964-1967-1977 Indy Car
Al Unser, 4, 27, 644, 1970-1971-1978-1987 Indy Car
Rick Mears, 4, 15, 429, 1979-1984-1988-1991 Indy Car
Jeff Gordon, 4, 11, 433, 1994-1999-2001-2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup
Michael Schumacher, 5, 2000, 2003-2006 F-1
also: Wolf Henzler has recorded four victories in Porsche Michelin Supercup series support races to the United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2000. Henzler won once in 2002, 2003 and both races in 2004.(IMS Site)(7-1-2005)
- Genernal Admission season tix offered by Indy: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is offering a General Admission Season Ticket for all three of its world-class events in 2008, the 92nd Indianapolis 500, 15th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP. The season ticket provides gate admission for a combined nine days over the three events, including all three race days, for just $150:
Indianapolis 500: Friday, May 23 (Miller Lite Carb Day, Firestone Freedom 100); Saturday, May 24 (Drivers’ Meeting), Sunday, May 25 (Race Day)
•Allstate 400 at the Brickyard: Friday, July 25 (Chevy Day at the Brickyard, Practice); Saturday, July 26 (Qualifying, Practice), Sunday, July 27 (Race Day)
•Red Bull Indianapolis GP: Friday, Sept. 12 (Practice), Saturday, Sept. 13 (Qualifying, Practice), Sunday, Sept. 14 (Race Day)
An IMS Season Ticket provides the only way for fans to obtain general admission Race Day access to the popular Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, the annual stop of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on the historic 2.5-mile oval. All other Race Day tickets are reserved for this event. Fans have three easy methods to buy IMS General Admission Season Tickets: Online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800)
822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office.(IMS)(5-14-2008)
- Open Wheel Series Unify: Indy Racing League founder and CEO Tony George and owners of the Champ Car World Series have completed an agreement in principle that will unify the sport for 2008. Gerald Forsythe, co-owner of Champ Car, signed an agreement in principle Feb. 22 in Chicago, joining his partner, Kevin Kalkhoven. George signed the agreement Feb. 21.(Indycar.com)(2-22-2008) Comment here.
- Box Lunches at Indy available: The Food & Beverage Department of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is accepting orders for the Brickyard Box Lunch, a
satisfying meal to enjoy on Race Day at the track. Fans may place orders for the Indianapolis 500, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP and pick up their lunch on Race Day at IMS. Brickyard Box Lunches come with a freshly made sandwich or chef salad, and a delicious fried chicken breast, chips, fresh apple, baked beans, cookie, condiments and a choice of two beverages that will keep fans satisfied until the end of the race. There are four box lunch options available: Ham and cheese sandwich; Turkey and cheese sandwich; Italian sub sandwich; or Speedway special chef salad with ranch dressing. The cost of a Brickyard Box Lunch is $14.95 each. A reusable souvenir cooler with a program pocket and choice of six beverages is available for $21.95. The collectible cooler does not include a box lunch or souvenir program. An Official Souvenir Program also may be ordered through the Brickyard Box Lunch Program for an additional $10. Box lunches, coolers and souvenir programs can be ordered securely online at
www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com or by calling the IMS Food & Beverage Department at (317) 492-6422 to request an order form. Mail orders must include full payment with a cashier’s check, money order (U.S. funds only) or a credit card number. Personal checks will not be accepted. Box lunch ordering deadlines for 2008: Indianapolis 500, May 18; Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, July 20; Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Sept. 7.(IMS PR)(2-3-2008)
- Indy selling "America Supports You" tshirts: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is selling T-shirts that will benefit the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces. All proceeds from the shirts will benefit the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, a non-profit organization recognized by the Department of Defense’s “America Supports You” initiative that supports those serving our country at home and abroad. The T-shirts, available in sizes small to 3XL, sell for $10 and are available in the IMS Hall of Fame Museum Gift Shop or in the IMS Online Store at store.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Tickets for all three world-class events in 2008 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – the 92nd Indianapolis 500, 15th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP – are on sale.(IMS PR)(11-24-2007)
- Indy Tix on sale Monday: Tickets for all three world-class events in 2008 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – the 92nd Indianapolis 500, 15th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP – will go on sale Monday, Nov. 12. The best seats for all three races will sell quickly. This is the first opportunity to buy tickets for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP, the first motorcycle race at IMS since 1909, so fans should hurry to be a part of history. Fans have three easy methods to purchase tickets starting at 8:00am/et Nov. 12:
•Online. Visit www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com to place secure orders with a credit card. Online ordering is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
•Phone. Call (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday to order tickets.
•In person. Visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis to buy tickets. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The 92nd Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 25. Next is the 15th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 27. The 2008 season will conclude with the return of motorcycle racing to IMS for the first time in 99 years with the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sunday, Sept. 14.(IMS PR)(11-9-2007)
- Renew Brickyard Tix by Aug 13th, get free DVD: Existing ticket holders who reorder their seats online for the 2008 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard by Monday, Aug. 13 will
receive a free, Collector’s Edition DVD of highlights from the 2007 race. Fans can renew or request an upgrade of their Race Day tickets online in the Tickets section at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. The 15th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is scheduled for Sunday, July 27, 2008. It will be the first time that NASCAR’s “Car of Tomorrow” will race at IMS.(IMS PR)(8-11-2007)
- Indy Loses some seats: Construction noise at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has drowned out the fact that the Indianapolis 500 will have fewer seats to offer in the future.
The remake of the facility’s road circuit for next year’s motorcycle race will eliminate a bleacher section known as the First Turn Terrace, which has 5,136 seats. That loss will reduce the total number of seats available for the oval-track configuration to 252,189, based on The Star’s findings in 2004. Track president Joie Chitwood called it “insignificant” during a tour of the construction site.(Indianapolis Star)(8-3-2007)
- Same weekend in 2008 for Indy race: Next year's [Cup] race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is scheduled for July 27, track officials announced.(Roanoke Times)(7-30-2007)
- Indy fans to welcome military personnel: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will unite with the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes during the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard weekend July 27-29. The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (CSAH) provides many programs to benefit wounded veterans of the United States Military and their families. Programs include Emergency Relief, Family Support Network, Career Network, Homes for Heroes and Road to Recovery Conference. The mission of CSAH is to assist those who have given so much on our behalf, and to help soldiers and their families overcome obstacles and resume productive and fulfilling lives. CSAH T-shirts and dog tags will be available for purchase in the Pagoda Plaza. The T-shirts are $20 each and come with a free dog tag. Dog tags can be purchased separately for $5 each. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts and dog tags will benefit CSAH. Fans attending the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard can greet a few of the military members who have benefited from the program in the past and are now national spokespersons. For more information about the Coalition to Support America’s Heroes, visit www.saluteheroes.org. Tickets can be purchased at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Web site, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by phone or at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office. The IMS Ticket Office can be contacted at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally. Ticket Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Race Day reserved seat tickets start at just $35.(IMS PR)(7-25-2007)
- National Anthem at Indy: Indiana National Guard Sgt. Byron Bartosh will play the national anthem at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A native of Garland, Texas, Bartosh attended high school at the Indiana Academy at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and lives in Bloomington, Ind., following a tour in the United States Marine Corps. Bartosh has also played “Taps” at the Indianapolis 500 in 2006 and 2007.(IMS PR)(7-25-2007)
- Messina Concert at Indy on race day: CURB Records country music recording artist Jo Dee Messina will play a free concert for Allstate 400 at the Brickyard ticket holders on Race Day, Sunday, July 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Race Day show, starts at noon on the infield adjacent to Turn 10 of the IMS road course. The concert will take place directly north of the IMS Hall of Fame Museum, near Turn 10 of the Speedway’s road course. Concert goers must have a Race Day admission ticket for the 14th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Allstate 400 at the Brickyard tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 14th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and can be purchased at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Web site, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by phone or at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office. The IMS Ticket Office can be contacted at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally. Ticket Office hours are 8am - 5pm, Monday through Friday. Parking and camping permits also can be purchased online, by phone or at the Ticket Office.(IMS PR)(7-19-2007)
- Gretchen Wilson to Perform at the Brickyard: Country music superstar Gretchen Wilson will perform a Miller Lite Rock N Racing concert Saturday, July 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Grammy Award winner Wilson will take the stage in the infield of the IMS oval at 4:45 p.m. (ET). Her performance is free with $15 gate admission for the day, is part of the Kurt Busch and Miller Lite Racing present Rock N Racing concert series. This will be the inaugural Rock N Racing concert at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.(IMS PR)(7-18-2007)
- Actor James Denton named the Grand Marshal of Allstate 400 at Indy: Desperate Housewives actor James Denton has been named the Grand Marshal for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 29. This year represents the 14th running of the historic race, which will be the season's first Nextel Cup Series event televised on ESPN [since it was Winston Cup in 2001], and marks Allstate's third consecutive season as title sponsor. Denton will be on hand to participate in pre-race activities, including the ceremonial waving of the green flag, signaling the start of the race. As a continued Indianapolis Motor Speedway family tradition, IMS Chairman of the Board Mari Hulman George will deliver the legendary command, "Gentlemen, start your engines." This year's race winner will be vying to become the third consecutive winner to go on and win the Nextel Cup Series Championship, a feat accomplished by Tony
Stewart in 2005 and Jimmie Johnson in 2006. Denton is best known from his role as Mike Delfino on ABC's television hit show, Desperate Housewives. He previously starred on the television series, The Pretender, Philly, and Threat Matrix. His feature film credits include Primary Colors and Face/Off. To purchase tickets, camping or parking for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, (317) 492-6700 locally or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.(IMS PR)(7-16-2007)
- Tom Carnegie to be Honored by Indiana Governor: Tom Carnegie, the voice of Indianapolis Motor Speedway for more than six decades, will be presented Tuesday with a Sagamore of the Wabash from Gov. Mitch Daniels. The award recognizes distinguished service in the state. Carnegie, 87, retired last year after 61 years as the track's announcer. Friends report Carnegie's health has improved in the past month and he is looking forward to visiting the track next month. His goal is to be at the Speedway on opening day to interview A.J. Foyt. It will be Foyt's 50th year at Indy.(Indianapolis Star)(4-10-2007)
- Sad News: Indy Exec Dies: Longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway executive Buddy McAtee died Feb. 12 in Indianapolis. He was 53. McAtee passed away at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis with his family at his side. An employee of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its affiliated companies since 1987, McAtee was promoted to the position of president, chief operating
officer and executive producer of IMS Productions on Jan. 15, 2007 after serving as vice president and executive producer since 2002, and leading the company to new heights of creative programming, broadcasting and profitability. A personal commendation that McAtee was proud to receive was the Torchbearer Award from the Indiana University Cancer Center in May 2006. Seven-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, who also received treatment at IU Cancer Center, presented the award to McAtee. McAtee is survived by his wife, Judy, and a daughter, Nikki. Visitation is scheduled for 2-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16 at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. Memorial donations may be made to Indiana University Medical Center, Cancer Research.(See more at the IMS site)(2-13-2007)
- Tony George crashes in Daytona test: Tony George's return to driving race cars was met with an accident today at Daytona International Speedway. George, the 47-year-old chief executive officer of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, crashed his Daytona Prototype sports car at about 3:15 p.m. while testing for this month's Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. He was not injured. George, who raced extensively in his younger days, said he hasn't driven a race car since 2001. He doesn't think he's been in a road race since 1993. The car George crashed was purchased from Eddie Cheever's sports car team. George, who owns Vision Racing, has entered the Rolex 24 with his stepson, Ed Carpenter, A.J. Foyt IV and Tomas Scheckter as co-drivers. The Rolex 24 is Jan. 27-28.(Indy Star)(1-6-2007)
- Indy's Grounds Tour returns in 2007: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum’s popular “Grounds Tour” will return in 2007 with a 60-date schedule, and the Museum is taking tour ticket orders now. The Grounds Tour is a fantastic opportunity to entertain family, friends or clients with a behind-the-scenes view of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s awe-inspiring infrastructure and history through a 90-minute guided tour, hosted by knowledgeable members of the Museum staff. Guests also will tour the Hall of Fame Museum and enjoy a ride around the famed 2.5-mile IMS oval in one of the Museum’s comfortable tour buses, culminating with an opportunity to stop at the “Yard of Bricks” and pose for photographs. 2007 Grounds Tours will take place from March through November, with the opening date scheduled for Thursday, March 15. Tours will wrap up for the year on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 23-24. Most of the tours take place in prime family vacation time: late June, 22 consecutive days in July, and early August, making Grounds Tours the perfect idea for a family getaway. Tours are scheduled to depart from the Hall of Fame Museum four times per day on scheduled tour days. The Hall of Fame Museum is located in the IMS infield, just inside the main gate (Gate 2) off 16th Street.(IMS PR)
AND The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum is in the giving spirit and offering the public free admission to the museum and the narrated track tour on Friday, Dec. 22. More info at indianapolismotorspeedway.com.(12-19-2006)
- Hulman-George family honored: The Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association presented the Hulman-George family, owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with its prestigious William K. McGowan Jr. Hospitality Leadership Award on Dec. 7. The award, named for William K. “Bill” McGowan, the president and CEO of the ICVA from 1984-2002, recognizes individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced tourism in Indianapolis through vision, passion, can-do spirit and integrity. Winners of the McGowan award, according to the ICVA, “have advanced visitation, economic impact, perception, image and prestige of our great destination.” Tony George, chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, accepted the award from the ICVA’s Chairman of the Board Jerry Semler during the its annual State of Tourism summit at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis. The ICVA presented the award to the Hulman-George family for its efforts, since 1945, to make the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and city of Indianapolis an exciting tourist destination for racing enthusiasts from around the world.(IMS PR)(12-12-2006)
- Brickyard 400 Tix on Sale Monday: Tickets for the 14th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, scheduled for Sunday, July 29, 2007, will go on sale Monday, Dec. 4, and any fan who buys two tickets before Dec. 25 will have a chance to take a lap around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Customers who have renewed or purchased at least two tickets can take a lap around the track as a passenger in a Chevrolet, the Official Vehicle of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for just $25 by calling (800) 822-INDY before Dec. 25. This special offer includes a photo opportunity at the famed Yard of Bricks start-finish line. Track laps are scheduled for Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25 and are very limited. Race weekend and Race Day tickets will be available online at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Web site, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by phone or in person at the IMS Ticket Office. The IMS Ticket Office can be contacted at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally. Ticket Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. A two-day general admission pass for practice and qualifying Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28 is available for just $25.(IMS PR)(12-3-2006)
- ISC to buy out IMS ownership pf Chicagoland Speedway: International Speedway Corporation ("ISC") today announced it has entered into a purchase agreement with Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation to indirectly acquire an additional 37.5% interest in Raceway Associates, LLC ("Raceway Associates"), owner and operator of Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. The purchase price for the transaction is approximately $69 million in cash. After the transaction closes, ISC will own 100% of Motorsports Alliance, LLC ("Motorsports Alliance"), which owns 75% of Raceway Associates. Raceway Associates was formed in 1999 as a joint venture between Motorsports Alliance and the former owners of Route 66 Raceway. Raceway Associates subsequently developed Chicagoland Speedway, a 75,000 seat facility hosting premier motorsports events from the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, NASCAR Busch, IRL IndyCar and ARCA RE/MAX series. ISC will also exercise its right to purchase the minority partners' remaining 25% interest in Raceway Associates pursuant to the 1999 Raceway Associates formation agreement. All the above transactions are expected to close in early 2007.(ISC Motorsports site)(11-1-2006)
- 2007 Indy Tix Renew and get DVD: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office is accepting ticket orders for the 14th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 29, 2007, a new date one weekend earlier than the event’s traditional date on the first weekend of August. Existing customers who renew or request an upgrade of their tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com will receive a free 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard commemorative DVD. All of the exciting highlights of this year’s race, capped by Johnson’s unlikely victory in the #48 Lowe’s Chevy, are featured on the DVD. To purchase tickets, camping or parking, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, (317) 492-6700 locally or log on to indianapolismotorspeedway.com. The ticket renewal deadline is Monday, Aug. 21. Customers who are upgrading or purchasing Allstate 400 at the Brickyard tickets for the first time should act quickly to increase their chances of obtaining their desired seats.(IMS PR/Site)(8-10-2006)
- 250 treated at Indy due to heat: About 250 people were treated for heat-related illnesses during Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, said Indianapolis Motor Speedway spokesman Ron Green. That compares with 225 people who were treated in May during the Indy 500 when temperatures were unseasonably hot. The National Weather Service said Sunday's high was the same was it was that day -- 89 degrees. Green said track officials were prepared for the August heat and had cooling-off tents set up around the track. Sunday's heat at the Brickyard wasn't as bad as in 2002, when the high on race day was 96 degrees -- three degrees short of the record for the date.(CNNSI/Associated Press)(8-7-2006)
- Corvette to Pace the Field at Indy: A new specially-outfitted Corvette Z06 will serve as the official pace car of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on August 6. Chevrolet cars have enjoyed the honor of pacing this event for 12 consecutive years, but this year is especially significant for the brand as it's the first time a Corvette serves as the pace vehicle at the prestigious NASCAR event. The Corvette Z06 for the Allstate 400 wears a unique paint scheme, inspired by an asymmetrical theme that conveys an "empathic sense of
motion," according to Kip Wasenko, the pace car designer. The Corvette Z06 features broad stripes of yellow, white and blue which complement the Allstate 400 logo and resemble banners that accentuate the car's sense of speed.(GM PR)(8-4-2006)
- Kelly Rowland to sing National Anthem at Indy: Kelly Rowland, a member of the chart-topping, Grammy-winning musical group Destiny’s Child, will sing the national anthem before the start of the 13th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Aug. 6 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Tickets are on sale for the 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 6 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Reserved seats start at just $35. Fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com or by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY.(IMS PR)(8-3-2006)
- Indy Race Date to move to July? UPDATE yep: Dick Glover, NASCAR vice president of broadcasting and new media, said that series officials have had talks about moving the Indianapolis race from early August to late July next season to accommodate ESPN's return.
Next year begins NASCAR's new TV package. Fox will broadcast the Daytona 500 and the next 12 races through the Coca-Cola 600. TNT will do the next six races, taking it through race #18 on the schedule. That would mean ESPN would make its debut at Pocono and then broadcast the race at Indy. An option would be to move Indianapolis up so that it corresponds with ESPN's first race. That would allow ESPN to trumpet its return in promotions with one of the sport's highest-profile races. NASCAR typically doesn't announce the new schedule until late summer.(Roanoke Times)(7-10-2006)
UPDATE: The 2007 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will take place Sunday, July 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a week earlier than the event’s traditional date on the first weekend in August. The prestigious race will be the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event televised on ESPN since 2000. ABC/ESPN is returning to weekly NASCAR race broadcasts in 2007, airing the last 17 events of the NEXTEL Cup Series schedule. ESPN will launch an extensive multimedia campaign early next year to promote its return to NASCAR at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. That campaign will run through Race Day. Promotion of ESPN’s return to NASCAR and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will be included on the full suite of ESPN media, including its cable TV networks, ESPN2, ESPN360, ESPN Radio, Mobile ESPN, ESPN.com and affiliated international networks throughout the world. The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard has taken place on the first weekend of August, with race dates ranging from Aug. 1 to Aug. 8, in the event’s 13-year history. This year’s race is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 6.(IMS PR)(7-28-2006)
- Lorrie Morgan to headline concert at Indy: Country music superstar Lorrie Morgan will headline an Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Race Day concert Sunday, Aug. 6 in the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Morgan will perform at noon (ET) in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield directly north of the IMS Hall of Fame Museum. Country music rising star Jack Ingram will open the concert at 10 a.m. The show is free for all Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Race Day ticket holders. Public gates open at 7:00am/et on Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Race Day, with the 13th running of the race scheduled to begin at 2:30pm/et. Tickets are on sale for the rac fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com or by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside theIndianapolis area.(IMS PR)(7-28-2006)
- 'Mr. Big' named Grand Marshal of Allstate 400 at Indy: Indianapolis Motor Speedway will get a touch of Hollywood for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, as actor Chris Noth was named July 24 as the race’s official grand marshal. Noth will participate in pre-race activities, including the waving of the green flag to signal the start of the race. By Indianapolis Motor Speedway family tradition, IMS Chairman of the Board Mari Hulman George will deliver the famous command, “Gentlemen, start your engines.” Noth is perhaps best known from his roles as Detective Mike Logan on NBC’s long-running crime dramas “Law & Order” and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” and Mr. Big from the hit HBO series “Sex & the City,” for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination. He recently starred and executive-produced the TNT Original film “Bad Apple,” as well as starring as Roman general Pompey in the TNT epic miniseries “Caesar.” Noth also enjoyed a successful Broadway run of the revival of Gore Vidal’s “The Best Man.” On the silver screen, Noth has been seen in such films as “Cast Away,” “Double Whammy” and “Glass House.”
Tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 6 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(IMS PR)(7-25-2006)
- Indy's Tom Carnegie to retire: Tom Carnegie has decided to wave the checkered flag on his legendary broadcasting career. The 86-year-old Indianapolis resident told Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George this week that he has worked his final Indianapolis 500 as a public address announcer. Carnegie said he will make cameo appearances at the Speedway in the future, but his days of working regular shifts are over. “I just feel it’s time to finish on top,” Carnegie said Thursday. “I had a good year, I felt good on race day and it’s time to move on.” Carnegie, who contracted polio during high school, has worked 61 consecutive 500s since being hired by George’s grandfather, the late Hulman, in 1946. The string of appearances is what the man with the booming voice is most proud of. “I’ve made them all,” he said. Carnegie and his wife, D.J., began considering his retirement long ago, but he said they were sure the time was right following this year’s race won by Sam Hornish Jr. “It’s good to get out while the flag is still flying,” he said. “I just wasn’t excited about having to get up at 6 in the morning to be (at the Speedway) by 9. Those days are over for me.”(Indianpolis Star)(6-9-2006)
- No Smoking at Indy? The grandstands will remain a haven for smokers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but all enclosed areas on the grounds soon will be off-limits. The city of Speedway, Ind., passed a citywide ban on smoking in indoor public places during a town council meeting Monday night, leaving its largest and most famous resident in the uncomfortable position of policing smoking in its many buildings while allowing it in the grandstands. "If they pass an ordinance with any ramifications on the Speedway, we'll abide by that," said IMS spokesman Ron Green. The ban, which doesn't go into effect until Sept. 1, will ban smoking in suites, hospitality tents and buildings on the grounds. The IMS ticket office and Hall of Fame already have no-smoking policies. The ordinance is likely to have a greater impact on nearby restaurants that cater to race fans. The ban will prohibit smoking at restaurants and bowling alleys, but most bars will be exempt. "I believe in free choice," said Liz Glover, owner of Charlie Brown's Pancake and Steakhouse, in an interview with WTHR-TV. "This is not an illegal act." The city's decision is in line with recent smoking bans passed by the city of Indianapolis and surrounding suburbs. Indiana ranks seventh nationally in tobacco use.(Speed Channel)(4-27-2006)
- Indy selling? UPDATE: Word is rumbling through the motorsports community that the Indianapolis Motorspeedway may be for sale. The bidders appear to include the France family and thier massive International Speedway Corporation empire and the Disney Corporation which would no doubt covet the incredible Indy complex as a centerpiece of its thriving theme part business. The Hulman family property is in the hands of Tony George, the well respected grandson of Anton (Tony) Hulman who purchased the speedway in 1945 from World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker for a reported $750,000.(Car and Driver Magazine)(3-7-2006)
UPDATE: Brock Yates, one of the country's best and most respected motorsports writers, speculates in this month's Car & Driver magazine that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is for sale and the France family and Disney are potential buyers. This rumor has been around for the past few years, along with the one that said Roger Penske would broker the deal for the Frances. Yes, Tony George has spent millions and millions of dollars on Formula One and keeping the Indy Racing League afloat but the Brickyard 400 remains a three-day cash cow. And Indy still makes money. Bottom line: Mari Hulman George, who remains THE BOSS of the IMS kingdom, has said time and again that Indy isn't for sale -- it's for her grandchildren. No reason to think Mari has changed her mind.(Speed Channel)(3-9-2006)
- Indy 500 changes start time again: The Indianapolis 500 is changing its starting time again. The May 28 race will begin at 1:00pm, the third starting time in as many years. Last year, the race started at noon after more than four decades at the traditional time of 11:00am. This change is precipitated by Indiana's move to Eastern Daylight Time. Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials opted for this year's later start to keep the race on television at the same time in other time zones. Like last year, the race will air at 1:00pm on the East Coast, noon in Chicago and 10:00am on the West Coast. Last year's starting time change helped the 500 score its highest TV rating since 1996, the first year of the Indy Racing League. The 6.5 rating represented a 59 percent increase over the 2004 race.(Indianapolis Star), doubtful with the one hour time change that started last year, that there will be any driver attempting to run both the Indy 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on May 28th.(2-4-2006)
- Brickyard 400 tix on sale: Tickets will go on sale to the general public Tuesday, Jan. 10 for the 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8:00am -5:00pm/et Monday-Friday, while online orders can be made at any time. Reserved seats start at just $35. The 13th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 6. For complete information about the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.(1-10-2006)
- Indy Owners to be Honored: The Hulman-George family will receive the prestigious Dusty Brandel President’s Award at the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association annual All-America Team dinner presented by Sprint NEXTEL on Dec. 3 in Indianapolis. The 36th annual dinner is moving from its longtime base in the Los Angeles area this year to the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. The dinner officially will conclude the 50th Anniversary Celebration for AARWBA, the oldest and largest organization of motorsports media professionals in America. Terre Haute, Ind., businessman Tony Hulman purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Nov. 14, 1945. The facility had deteriorated since the Indianapolis 500 was suspended from 1942-45 due to America’s participation in World War II. Hulman guided the Speedway until his death in October 1977. His wife, Mary Fendrich Hulman, became chairman of the board after his death, and their daughter, Mari Hulman George, became chairman of the board in 1988, a position she holds today. Mari Hulman George’s son, Anton Hulman “Tony” George, became president of the Speedway in January 1990 and now is chief executive officer of IMS and the Indy Racing League. Longtime motorsports broadcaster Bob Jenkins, who among his duties has been the IMS Radio Network “Voice of the Indianapolis 500” and has worked on the IMS Public Address team, will be the master of ceremonies at the dinner. Tickets, for the general public as well as media and sponsors, are available more info on www.aarwba.org by clicking on the Banquet link.(PR)(10-7-2005)
- Indy to be featured on National Geographic Channel Show Sept 13th: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be featured on National Geographic Channel’s new show “MegaStructures” premiering at 8:00pm/et Tuesday, Sept. 13. The show, which features the “greatest buildings and machines ever created,” according to the National Geographic Channel Web site, will be rebroadcast at 11:00pm/et Sept. 13 and at 5:00pm/et Wednesday, Sept. 14. “MegaStructures” will offer a profile of the Speedway from its founding in 1909, the establishment of its famous nickname, “the Brickyard,” its decay during World War II followed by revival at the hands of the Hulman-George Family, and its present-day operations and development.
IMS tickets: To purchase tickets, camping or parking for either the Indianapolis 500, United States Grand Prix or Allstate 400 at the
Brickyard, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, (317) 492-6700 locally or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.(IMS PR)(9-11-2005)
