Other drivers, like Vitor Meira, said the series should maintain ovals as at least 50 percent of the total.

“That’s where we have been successful and NASCAR has been successful,” Meira said. “We’ve proven that the American fan likes it, and that’s our fan base. It’s more entertaining. I’m talking only about the business side of it. I’m taking myself out of the equation, because, man, it’s dangerous. You can get hurt much easier on ovals. Personally, I’d like to see us race less on ovals, but you have to. Fifty percent of it has to be ovals.”

Still others, like Ed Carpenter, leaned more toward Gossage’s line of thinking.

“I’m not going to lie; I wouldn’t mind if it was all ovals,” Carpenter said. “If there were more promoters like Eddie Gossage at the other ovals, that would be an easier decision to make. The problem we have is that a lot of road and street races are profitable events for everybody, but you can’t say that about all of the oval events we go to.”

Champ Car attempted to race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2001 but canceled the race when drivers reported bouts with vertigo and some feared losing consciousness as speeds approached 240 mph. Justin Wilson, who circled the 24-degree banking for the first time Thursday night, said racing at TMS is a daunting challenge for newcomers.

“I can’t imagine going 20mph faster than what we’re doing now,” Justin Wilson said. “It’s already crazy fast. I can understand why they were passing out. You can definitely feel the strains and the G-forces compressing in. It’s different to the other tracks we’ve raced on, where the Gs are lateral. You start to feel the effect.”

Wheldon's Dallara-Honda following his practice crash. (Shawn Payne/IndyCar photo)

* WHELDON RECOVERS FROM CRASH -- Dan Wheldon limped down pit road after qualifying Friday evening, but claimed his bum right foot didn’t affect his ability to mat the throttle.

“The right side of it smashed against the tub,” Wheldon said. “It’s fine; I just can’t put much weight on it.

Wheldon’s rollover crash during Friday’s afternoon practice session -- and his subsequent recovery -- was the buzz of the day at Texas Motor Speedway. A suspension breakdown sent him into the wall in Turn 4 and sliding down the frontstretch, where he flipped and rolled on the infield grass.

“That’s probably the biggest hit I’ve had,” Wheldon said. “That one hurt.”

Wheldon’s right ankle was X-rayed, but no bones were broken. He iced and wrapped the ankle, hobbled into his car, and recorded the 11th-fastest lap in the 28-car field.