Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) President Tony George
announced that qualifications for the '98 Indy 500 will be
conducted over two days, Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17,
instead of the normal four, and that IMS will open for
practice eight days later than in recent years (IMS).
George: "We've been listening for quite some time to
competitors, to fans, and we think that by condensing the
month we'll be able to generate and maintain more excitement
both on and off the track." More George: "I don't think
it's a matter of feeling threatened by CART or anybody else.
I think this is really more adjusting to a changing
environment and climate" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 9/11).
FROM INDY: Over the past two years at the Indy 500,
crowds "have been down for qualifications and practice,"
according to Bill Koenig of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS. The
"slowdown in pre-race activities has adversely affected area
businesses." While George said that the decline in "pre-
race crowds was under way even while CART raced at Indy,"
the new schedule "means less can be more." The schedule
changes mean "all major activities will take place within a
two-week period," instead of most of May. Koenig adds that
the changes comes at "a critical time for the Speedway" as
George's IRL "has struggled for sponsorship dollars." CART
"draws about $10 in sponsorship revenue for each dollar the
IRL gets. Also, it's expected that CART soon will announce
that Federal Express will become that group's new title
sponsor, which could raise CART's exposure." George, on the
IRL's sponsorship situation: "It's going to continue to get
better as we grow our series and add races." CART declined
comment on yesterday's announcement (STAR-NEWS, 9/12).
