Rolex Sports Car Series, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
Joining NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide Series For “Super Weekend at the Brickyard”
GRAND-AM Road Racing has added a long-anticipated Indianapolis Motor Speedway date to its 2012 schedules for both the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, with races set for Friday, July27 on IMS’ road course.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is giving its popular Brickyard 400 weekend an innovative andexciting makeover starting next season and GRAND-AM will play a huge role, in what will be called the“Super Weekend at the Brickyard,” on July 26-29.
In addition to GRAND-AM’s two series, there will be a third series making its IMS debut – theNASCAR Nationwide Series on July 28. The weekend’s marquee event, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’Brickyard 400 on July 29, will have ample support to say the least.
“GRAND-AM is an organization on the move and this announcement personifies that fact,” saidGRAND-AM President Tom Bledsoe. “This is a great, great day for GRAND-AM and for sports car racingin North America.
“We have been negotiating with our good friends at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for awhile tomake this happen, while also working in concert with our parent organization, NASCAR, to put together themost attractive event possible.
“GRAND-AM has the finest sports car racing in North America, and we’re proud that we’ll be ableto showcase the racing at Indy.”
It will be the first time in IMS history that races will take place on the 2.5-mile oval and 2.605-mile,13-turn Grand Prix road course during the same weekend. The detailed one-day schedule for GRAND-AMhas yet to be finalized, including the respective lengths of the two races.
“The Super Weekend at the Brickyard will offer non-stop excitement for every auto racing fan withthe addition of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and GRAND-AM Road Racing,” said Jeff Belskus,Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and CEO. “There will be competitive, fender-rubbingaction from many different types of machinery for four days, featuring established stars and rising talents,on both the IMS oval and road course.
“This will be an unforgettable event and the start of a great new racing tradition at the Speedway.”For many GRAND-AM drivers, such as reigning and three-time Rolex Series Daytona Prototypechampion Scott Pruett of the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates organization, this new event affordsa racing return to the Brickyard. Two years ago, GRAND-AM tested at IMS, fueling speculation about apossible future event.
Pruett has raced in the Indianapolis 500 four times, with a best finish of 10th back in 1989. After amove from open-wheel to NASCAR, he ran the Brickyard 400 twice, finishing 10th in 2000.“This is huge for the sport, for our team and it’s huge for me personally,” said Pruett.
“When we had the opportunity to go and test at Indy in 2009, it was incredible to go back. Afterracing Indy Cars and NASCAR stock cars at Indianapolis, now to get the opportunity to go there withGRAND-AM …it’s one of those absolute pinnacles of racing.”
