New qualifying procedures for the Indianapolis 500 were revealed on Friday with IndyCar "intent on providing more action for Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May," but they will "take some getting used to," according to Curt Cavin of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. The new initiative "starts with a new road course event, is followed by a meatier qualifying weekend and includes a major concert on the night before the 500." Bump Day has "never previously been held before pole day." The purpose of the change is to "make both qualifying days relevant." A "double dose of intensity is what Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles sought when he challenged the staff to think differently about the weekend." Miles hopes to see "better track attendance and television ratings as IndyCar and IMS need boosts in both." Driver Graham Rahal said, "The most important thing to realize here is we have to give our fans a better product both on TV and at the track. We know Sunday in the past has been a moot point." Cavin noted IMS will try to "boost track attendance on qualifying weekend by offering a two-day pass for $30." Miles is "happy with the May lineup, and there's a lot to like," as IndyCar's new road-course event (May 8-10) will "present the sport and the track in a different manner." Indy 500 race weekend should "similarly become more profitable" with the addition of a May 24 concert. ABC will "air coverage all three weekends" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/8). In Milwaukee, Dave Kallmann wrote while IndyCar claims that the changes would "add excitement" to the event, "what this actually adds is 'confusion.'" But anything that "breathes life into qualifying, which used to be the second biggest single-day sporting event -- behind the race itself -- is worth a shot" (JSONLINE.com, 3/7).
