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NorthernLight IRL: New Kansas Speedway to welcome stars of Indianapolis 500

9 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Indy Racing Northern Light Series Part of Inaugural Year in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Kan- Officials of the Kansas Speedway and its parent company, the International Speedway Corporation, announced today that the new facility will play host to an Indy Racing Northern Light Series race on Sunday, July 8, 2001.

At a press conference today at the facility, which is scheduled to open in 2001, track officials were joined by Tony George, Indy Racing League founder and president and chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever and 1996 Indy Racing co-champion Scott Sharp.

The Kansas Speedway race will join the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500 on the Indy Racing Northern Light Series schedule in 2001. The new date takes place on Fourth of July weekend, creating a new holiday tradition of racing for fans.

"We are pleased that Kansas Speedway has been designed to accommodate a variety of motorsports events, including Indy Racing," said George. "We look forward to building on the Midwests solid foundation of support for Indy Racing created by the Indianapolis 500, and we are pleased to see Kansas City already emerging as a leading market for the Indy Racing League."

Kansas Speedway joins the Chicagoland Speedway at Joliet and Kentucky Speedway as the most recent new speedways that have chosen to play host to Northern Light Series events in their inaugural seasons.

Officials of the Chicagoland Speedway also announced today that their facility will play host to an Indy Racing event Sunday, Sept. 2, 2001. Kentucky Speedway opens this year and will present The Belterra Resort Indy 300 on Aug. 27.

"These new tracks are first-class facilities, and were proud of the fact that the Northern Light Series will be showcased at each one," George said. "Its a credit to our brave and exciting drivers and the professional teams that support them."

The Indy Racing Northern Light Series will release its entire 2001 schedule at a later date.

The Indy Racing Northern Light Series is the premier open-wheel, oval-track series in the world, with the world-famous Indianapolis 500 as its cornerstone events. Drivers in the Northern Light Series compete in open-wheel, open-cockpit cars with normally aspirated V8 engines that race at more than 220 mph.

Top drivers in the series include two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr., 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier, 1999 series champion Greg Ray, Scott Goodyear, Robbie Buhl and Scott Sharp.

Text provided by Paul Kelly

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.