Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 16, 1992 TAG: 9201160108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
STOCK CARS MAY GET THEIR DAY AT INDIANAPOLIS
Many auto racing fans have wondered what it would be like if the stock cars raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.It may happen, perhaps next year.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George and NASCAR President Bill France Jr. shared the stage at Charlotte Motor Speedway's preseason NASCAR media tour Wednesday with CART President Bill Stokkan and although they said they have not yet had any discussions, neither ruled out the possibility.
At first, George and France danced around the issue a good bit, but they warmed to the subject the more they were asked about it.
The soft-spoken George, grandson of late owner Tony Hulman, said he had "obtained permission from the family" at the speedway's December board meeting to investigate the possibility of running more events at the nation's oldest and most famous auto racing track.
"I personally enjoy NASCAR racing," George said, "and if we're going to have another event, that would probably be the one that would make the most sense for us. And whether it does for Bill, we haven't really discussed that."
"From NASCAR's standpoint, we'd like to have a race" there, France said.
Robin Miller, motorsports writer for the Indianapolis Star, wrote on Dec. 29 that although "nothing is official," NASCAR racing may come to Indy as early as 1993. George reportedly wants a NASCAR Winston Cup weekend in late August.
"The only stumbling blocks at the moment are the IMS walls and pits," Miller wrote. "They need to be modified, which the speedway plans to do following the '92 Indy 500."
Miller quoted George as saying only that "we're looking at our options," but George was more expansive Wednesday.
"For a permanent facility to survive in the future, it's going to have to have multiple events and major events," George said. "I don't think we would have any problem selling out the permanent seating" for a NASCAR race. "That would definitely make it a worthwhile venture.
"Obviously, there's been a lot of rumors and the response to those rumors has been surprisingly encouraging," he said. "Some of our longtime ticket holders who have been there 30 years are calling the ticket office wanting to know if they could have first right of refusal to any tickets for any additional events."
Neither George nor France seemed to be concerned with the possibility of an Indy stock car race eventually overshadowing the Indy 500 or the Daytona 500.
"If it does, it will be based on its own merit," George said. "I really can't see it adversely affecting" the Indy 500.
"A NASCAR Winston Cup race, in my opinion, is not going to outdraw the Indy 500," France said. "Twenty five years from now, who knows?"
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.