Friday
Earlier Indy 500 start likely; will that draw NASCAR drivers?
Caught in the Catchfence™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.
Article Tags: ABC, Bruton Smith, Coca-Cola 600, Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar, IZOD IndyCar® Series, Jeff Belskus, NASCAR, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NHMS, Randy Bernard, SMI, Speedway Motorsports Inc.
