Crain News Service report
INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 3, 2013) — Racing team owner Roger Penske is an Indianapolis Motor Speedway traditionalist as much as anyone.
But common sense leads him to support the creation of an IndyCar Series road course race at the historic facility in 2014. Mr. Penske, who has 15 Indianapolis 500 race wins as a team owner, knows and respects the traditions of Indy more than most.
"In this economy, you need to use any asset, especially if you have one like you have here," Mr. Penske said after the unveiling Oct. 1 of the Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
The event on the 14-turn, 2.43-mile road course will be May 8-10, 2014, kickstarting the buildup to the Indianapolis 500. Plans are for this to be an annual event—a points-paying IndyCar race.
Mr. Penske supports the idea that the two ABC-TV races will work together to support the series as a whole. They will bookend Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) activities, with a qualifying weekend sandwiched in between.
"To have a Speedweek like this is almost the greatest thing I've heard," Mr. Penske said. "It will help our sport. Great event, great announcement."