Indy Changes Won’t Threaten Cart, Irl Founder Says

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George said Thursday that changes to the Indy 500 qualifying process were not intended to lure top teams and drivers from the rival Championship Auto Racing Teams series.

“Given the changing environment of motorsports, the increased events worldwide, we’re taking this opportunity to look at the way we do business,” George said.

Practice and qualifying for the race will be halved starting next year, a break in tradition.

Pole-day qualifying will be on the Saturday ending the first week of practice. The final qualifications will be the next day, eliminating the second week of practice and the third and fourth days of time trials. The final practice session will still be on the Thursday before the race.

There had been speculation the shortened schedule and resulting decreased costs might help ease a return of CART, which has boycotted Indianapolis the past two years because of other changes made by George, who launched the Indy Racing League.