[Stoner27]

Indianapolis keeps August free for MotoGP.


The world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway is keeping August 2008 free for a possible second US-based round of the MotoGP World Championship.

Although a deal to join (rather than replace) Laguna Seca on the world championship calendar next season is yet to be signed, the circuit is now said to be 'nearing final discussions' with MotoGP officials.

"We've always planned [MotoGP] as a fourth event [for the facility]," The Indianapolis Star reports track president Joie Chitwood as saying. "At that point, the dates are limited."

The 'paper explains that The Brickyard would need three weeks to convert the oval course to its road track specification - and with May hosting the Indianapolis 500 Indy Car race, June the US Formula One Grand Prix and July the Allstate 400 NASCAR race, August is the first 'free' summer month.


"It's a summer event," Chitwood said. "It fits in August."

However, one significant sticking point remains track design - since it is highly unlikely that the MotoGP riders would agree to use the oval's fast final corner, as present on the current F1 road course layout.

crash.net