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GRAND-AM: Rolex Series To Race At Indy In 2012
SPEED.com's Robin Miller breaks the news of the GRAND-AM Rolex Series joining the bill for the 2012 Brickyard 400 weekend on the IMS road course.
Robin Miller  |  Posted June 14, 2011   Indianapolis, IN
GRAND-AM tested at Indy in 2009, which many felt was a precursor to the NASCAR-owned series competing at the famed Speedway. (IMS Photo)
Ticket sales for next month’s Brickyard 400 are reportedly lagging behind last year’s but NASCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have a plan they hope will infuse some spectator interest.

SPEED.com has learned that the GRAND-AM Rolex Series, owned and operated by NASCAR, will run a three-hour enduro the same weekend as the 19th annual stock car race in 2012.

It’s not known whether GRAND-AM will be held Friday or Saturday but it would be the first time races were staged on the oval and road course at the same time.

IMS president Jeff Belskus was unavailable for comment, but the Speedway announced a few days ago it was re-paving the infield section of the road course.

And it’s still unknown whether MOTO GP, set for Aug. 26-28, will be returning to IMS in 2012 since it plans to add Austin, Texas and already runs at Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.

GRAND-AM, which competes with ALMS in this country for the sports car audience, opens its season annually with the Rolex 24 at Daytona and is known for its high caliber of racing, but plays before very small crowds compared to what the ALMS draws in at Sebring, Long Beach, Mid-Ohio and Road Atlanta.

Running at IMS likely will insure Jim France’s series its largest audience – especially if it runs on Saturday.

GRAND-AM regulars include Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, Max Angelelli, Ricky Taylor and David Donohue competing in the Prototype class which features several different chassis and engines.

Supposedly, there also have been discussions about moving the Nationwide race from Lucas Oil Raceway to IMS on Saturday to run with GRAND-AM and Brickyard qualifying.

But it’s believed that Forrest Lucas only purchased the 50-year-old racing complex in Clermont with a guarantee the Nationwide race remained.

The 30th annual Kroger 200 is set for July 30.
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