.. on 2006 Menards Infiniti Pro Series Schedule
The Indy Racing League Menards Infiniti Pro Series™ 2006 schedule will feature an even mix of six ovals and six road-course races, including both courses at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and “doubleheaders” at St. Petersburg, Fla., and Infineon Raceway.
The fifth season of competition for the IRL’s top ladder series will get underway March 26 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The series will then travel to St. Petersburg April 1 and 2 for two races on a temporary street circuit before heading to Indianapolis for the fourth Freedom 100 on the historic 2.5-mile oval.
For the second consecutive season, the Freedom 100 will be contested on Carb Day (May 26), the Friday before the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Five weeks later, the series will return to Indianapolis for the Liberty Challenge on the 2.605-mile road course as part of the United States Grand Prix weekend.
Other oval events on the schedule are Nashville, Milwaukee, Kentucky and the season-ending race at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 9.
“The Menards Infiniti Pro Series continues to evolve as the perfect stepping stone into the IRL IndyCar Series,” said Roger Bailey, executive director of the Menards Infiniti Pro Series. “We have a nice blend of oval tracks ranging from one mile to two-and-a-half miles, and we’ve aggressively increased the number of road-course races to appeal to an even greater number of young, talented drivers.
“Of course the icing on the cake continues to be the fact that the Menards Infiniti Pro Series is the only racing series in the world to race twice at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the same year.”
The series’ two other road events include visits to Watkins Glen International and Infineon Raceway. The Watkins Glen event will move from September to June 4, the weekend after the Indianapolis 500. The Infineon event will feature races on both Aug. 26 and 27.
Six races will be held on the same day as IndyCar Series races.
The complete 2006 Menards Infiniti Pro Series schedule:
Date - Track
March 26 Homestead-Miami Speedway
April 1 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
April 2 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
May 26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)
June 4 Watkins Glen International
TBA Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)
July 15 Nashville Superspeedway
July 22 Milwaukee Mile
Aug. 13 Kentucky Speedway
Aug. 26 Infineon Raceway
Aug. 27 Infineon Raceway
Sept. 9 Chicagoland Speedway
The Menards Infiniti Pro Series season continues Sept. 25 with the Corning 100 at Watkins Glen International. The race will be telecast by ESPN2 on Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. EDT.
