IMS President Eyes Daytona 500 Knockout as He Lets Slip Massive Brickyard 400 Overhaul for Fans

When the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was established in 1909, its racing surface was paved with bricks. While the literal ‘Brickyard’ has undergone significant changes since then, the racing spirit of the Indiana motorsport fanatics has remained strong. To fuel the same spirit, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles is aiming to revolutionize the NASCAR experience at the IMS, similar to the Daytona International Speedway.

Speaking with the NASCAR on NBC broadcast booth duo of Marty Snider and Jeff Burton, President Boles emphasized the role of the IMS in the racing schedule. The speedway is considered by many to be among the big three race tracks, along with Daytona and Charlotte. Hosting different competitions like IMSA and NASCAR at the venue, J. Douglas Boles wants racing fans to enrich their experience in a new way.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway will provide fans an opportunity to camp at the race track

In 2022, IMSA confirmed the return of the speedway to the SportsCar championship schedule. The news arrived as a joy for the Indiana-based fans since IMSA racing was coming back to the reputed track for the first time since 2014. When asked about the Indiana audience welcoming some of the world’s best road course drivers, J. Douglas Boles said, “I think it was a great reception.”

Revealing the plans for the speedway, he said, “What people are waiting for is its dirt race. We did sprints, 2-hour, and 40-minute races, and this year, we could have that 6-hour race. I spent last night here with your folks, camping in the infield of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I’m trying to encourage people.“

The IMS is owned by Team Penske owner Roger Penske. His stature in the racing world has resonated with Boles’ ideas of improving a regular fan experience with overnight stays and camping in RVs and tents. Adding these features to the return Brickyard 400 is next on the venue’s checklist. The NASCAR race has been replaced by the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard recently, a change that some expected would repel fans.

Divulging his intentions of expanding the services, Boles added, “You can do that anyway, but the Brickyard is here. We did it last year for the IMSA race, but this is the first time we’ve expanded. Roger Penske allowed us to do some really cool spots inside turn 4. It was a blast, it’s going to be fun. People have fun here in Daytona, and I want them to have fun in Indy.”

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Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s place in American motorsport culture has continued to grow. Hosting IndyCar’s crown jewel, the Indy 500, the venue has become a hub of racing for different competitions. A few days ago, the race track authorities decided to honor two Indy 500 winners who have reflected the spirit of racing on the IMS asphalt.

IMS will honor Tony Kanaan and Juan Pablo Montoya with a Hall of Fame induction

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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has witnessed some of the most legendary race car drivers in history. To recognize their contribution to the sport, the speedway has its own Hall of Fame, with two additions for the Class of 2024. Among the 14 nominees for the prestige, Tony Kanaan and Juan Pablo Montoya were the most voted names and will be awarded the privilege in May.

Tony Kanaas is the winner of the 2013 Indy 500. In a glittering career, Kanaan has started in 389 IndyCar races. In that period, he has won 17 races, along with 79 podiums and 134 top-five finishes. Kanaan was among some of the hardest and cleanest racing drivers on the IndyCar grid, which amounted to a Most Popular Driver award in 2013.

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Similarly, Juan Pablo Montoya has left a mark on the competition since his arrival. Entering the 2000 Indy 500 as a rookie, Montoya led 167 laps to victory. That win also earned him the Rookie of the Year award in the same year. Fifteen years later, Montoya brought home his second Indy 500 win after a stint in Formula 1 racing. He has recorded five IndyCar wins in a long and versatile career, making him the latest addition to the Hall of Fame. As the Indy 500 and its drivers continue to make history, the IMS Hall of Fame is bound to expand in the years to come.