Watch CBS News

Xfinity Series To Run Indy Road Course For 1st Time

Roger Penske already is making changes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It looks like more are on the way, too.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 08: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 World Wide Technology Chevrolet, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 08, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 08: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Ford, celebrates after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 08, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

They added sports car races. They moved the Xfinity Series race to the speedway. They improved the entertainment lineup with big-name bands. They changed the dates of the race and even debated running at night.

The stands remained more than half-empty on race day.

So after purchasing the track, Penske selected one of the few options still open for debate — using the road course.

"I'd like a little redemption on the oval," said driver Justin Allgaier, who finished second in last year's Xfinity race. "But on the flip side of it, this opportunity really, really is exciting to me. To switch to a race course that I think fits our cars very well, I believe in my mind there's going to be some great passing zones and the ability to put on a great race."

Bathurst 1000 - Supercars Championship: Practice
BATHURST, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 12: (L-R) Zak Brown team owner of Walkinshaw Andretti United and Roger Penske team owner of DJR Team Penske look on during practice on October 12, 2019 in Bathurst, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Matt DiBenedetto will test two potential courses next Wednesday. A tire test also could be added to the schedule.

If it all goes well, the Xfinity and Cup drivers could be making another switch.

"Who knows, maybe next year we'll run NASCAR on the road course and Xfinity on the oval," Penske said, drawing laughter. "I'm serious. Our fans will tell us."

After moving the Brickyard 400 from August to September two years ago, NASCAR officials scheduled it for the Fourth of July weekend, giving Penske's speedway team an opportunity to package two holiday weekends with deep patriotic and military ties: the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend and the Brickyard 400.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Indiana 250 - Practice
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 06: Noah Gragson, driver of the #9 Switch Chevrolet, prepares to drive during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Indiana 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 06, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Boles also announced fans will be allowed camp in the third turn of the oval course starting July 3, the night Florida-Georgia Line will be the feature concert. There will be another full concert schedule the following night and a fireworks display. Both races will be televised by NBC.

Track workers will be busy: After the Xfinity race ends, they will have about 90 minutes to convert the speedway's road course back to its traditional format on July 4 so Cup drivers can have one or two practices ahead of their race the next day.

Qualifying for the Cup race will be held July 5 with the race scheduled for the afternoon.

All of it, Penske hopes, makes a difference.

103rd Indianapolis 500
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 26: Team owner Roger Penske celebrates after his driver Simon Pagenaud of France, driver of the #22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet wins the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 26, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

"We think with the conversion of the road course Saturday to the oval Sunday will be great for our fans," Penske said. "We know we can turn it. It's not easy to go from a road course to an oval but our team and do it and we think the fans will enjoy it."

© 2019 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.