Mark Miles
FILE - Fans watch the running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race in the first turn at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, in this Sunday, May 28, 2017, file photo. The Indianapolis 500 will be the largest sporting event since the start of the pandemic with 135,000 spectators permitted to attend “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” next month. Indianapolis Motor Speedway said Wednesday, April 21, 2021, it worked with the Marion County Public Health Department to determine 40% of venue capacity can attend the May 30 race. (AP Photo/R Brent Smith, File)
Indy 500 to host 135,000 in largest sports event in pandemic

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 21, 2021 03:00 PM EDT

FILE - Hooters 500 winner Bill Elliott, left, and NASCAR Winston Cup champion Alan Kulwicki celebrate in Victory Lane following the Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., in this Nov. 15, 1992, file photo. Chase Elliott will honor the late Alan Kulwicki by racing the same Hooters paint scheme that was on Kulwicki’s car in the 1992 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Kulwicki beat Bill Elliott for the Winston Cup title. Chase Elliott will run the paint scheme at Darlington Raceway on May 9, 2021. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
NASCAR, motorsports approach to virus vaccine varies greatly

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 16, 2021 05:05 PM EDT

Alexander Rossi watches from his pit box during testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
IndyCar opens season with stacked rookie class chasing Dixon

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 14, 2021 05:08 PM EDT

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
The Latest: Marshall postpones 2 men's basketball games

By The Associated Press Jan. 06, 2021 11:02 AM EST

Chip Ganassi speaks about driver Jimmie Johnson joining his IndyCar team for next season at a press conference during the IndyCar race weekend Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
IndyCar back in St. Pete seven months later to finish season

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 24, 2020 06:27 PM EDT

Alexander Rossi drives through a turn during an IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Power goes wire to wire for Indy win as Newgarden closes gap

By Michael Marot Oct. 03, 2020 11:50 AM EDT

Third-place finisher Ryan Hunter-Reay (28) exits a turn near the end of an IndyCar Series auto race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Lexington, Ohio. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
IndyCar sets 17 races and stop in Nashville on 2021 schedule

Oct. 01, 2020 11:31 AM EDT

Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden, leaves the pits to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
As Indianapolis 500 nears, sound of silence is deafening

By Michael Marot Aug. 20, 2020 07:43 PM EDT

Marco Andretti poses during the front row photos session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. Andretti won the pole for Sunday's race. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indy 500 speeds on the rise again with record in sight

By Dave Skretta Aug. 19, 2020 02:14 PM EDT

An Indianapolis Motor Speedway signs greets visitors as they enter the north entrance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, July 3, 2020. Roger Penske has spent the six months since he bought Indianapolis Motor Speedway transforming the facility. He's spent millions on capital improvements to the 111-year-old national landmark and finally gets to showcase some of the upgrades this weekend as NASCAR and IndyCar share the venue in a historic doubleheader. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indy 500 to reduce capacity to 25 percent, lift blackout

By Dave Skretta Jul. 22, 2020 11:08 AM EDT

Tony Kanaan, left, and Graham Rahal laugh as they talk on pit road during qualifying for an IndyCar auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Kanaan back in IndyCar to resume swansong season at Iowa

By Dave Skretta Jul. 17, 2020 03:53 PM EDT

An Indianapolis Motor Speedway signs greets visitors as they enter the north entrance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, July 3, 2020. Roger Penske has spent the six months since he bought Indianapolis Motor Speedway transforming the facility. He's spent millions on capital improvements to the 111-year-old national landmark and finally gets to showcase some of the upgrades this weekend as NASCAR and IndyCar share the venue in a historic doubleheader. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
IndyCar donates $1 million to establish diversity program

Jul. 04, 2020 12:01 PM EDT

The Pagoda is seen at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, July 3, 2020. Roger Penske has spent the six months since he bought Indianapolis Motor Speedway transforming the facility. He's spent millions on capital improvements to the 111-year-old national landmark and finally gets to showcase some of the upgrades this weekend as NASCAR and IndyCar share the venue in a historic doubleheader. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
'His Mona Lisa' - Penske adds golden touch to iconic Indy

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 03, 2020 04:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2020 file photo Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske listens during a news conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Penske will watch his first race as owner of the IndyCar Series from a suite for the first time since 1995 when his teams failed to make the Indianapolis 500. He bought the series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway in January but his debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. The IndyCar season opens Saturday, June 6, 2020 at Texas Motor Speedway. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Penske wants full fans at Indy 500, ready for IndyCar opener

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 05, 2020 05:17 PM EDT

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is empty, Sunday, May 24, 2020, in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis 500 was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The race will instead be held Aug. 23, three months later than its May 24 scheduled date. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader in Indy will not have fans

Jun. 04, 2020 10:34 AM EDT

The supporter's entrance of the Signal Iduna Park, Germany's biggest stadium of Borussia Dortmund, is closed in Dortmund, Germany, Thursday, May 14, 2020. Bundesliga will now restart on May 16, 2020 when Borussia Dortmund will play the derby against FC Schalke 04 at home without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The Latest: Aussie rules football to kick off on June 11

By The Associated Press May. 14, 2020 01:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 13, 2016, file photo, Oriol Servia, of Spain, drives the car of Will Power, of Australia, into Turn 10 during the IndyCar Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg auto race in St. Petersburg, Fla. IndyCar plans to crown its champion on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, as the original opener has been rescheduled to Oct. 25 as the finale. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez, File)
IndyCar to close season at rescheduled St. Petersburg race

By Jenna Fryer May. 13, 2020 12:53 PM EDT

An entrance to Indianapolis Motor Speedway is viewed Saturday, April 18, 2020, in Indianapolis. The speedway is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis could welcome back fans for Brickyard weekend

By Michael Marot May. 01, 2020 05:26 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Ryan Blaney leads the field to the start the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. NASCAR will resume its season without fans starting May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. As NASCAR speeds back to the race track during the coronavirus pandemic the series has a heavy responsibility to set a safety standard that doesn't slow the return of other sports. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
NASCAR will be watched closely when it returns to racing

By Jenna Fryer May. 01, 2020 04:42 PM EDT

A car drives past the entrance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 28, 2020. Roger Penske, at 83 and considered high risk to the coronavirus as a 2017 kidney transplant recipient, still makes the daily three-minute commute to his Bloomfield Hills, Mich, office. He works 12 or more hours a day from his conference room at Penske Corp., which has a skeleton crew all practicing social distancing. Penske also had the small matter of planning his first Indianapolis 500. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
IndyCar cancels Detroit, adds doubleheaders, 3rd Indy race

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 06, 2020 01:02 PM EDT