Competition.

Changes at Indy?

Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials are again about to review two time elements of the Indianapolis 500. The first is the race's starting time; a more likely change is shortening the month-of-May activities.

The latter is important as the Indy Racing League, owned and managed by the same Hulman-George family, tries to grow its schedule. IRL/IMS president Tony George said he would like to have four or five races prior to the 500; he had only three this year. The IRL expects to have at least 18 races in 2005.

A benefit to shortening the Indy schedule is that it allows for a race elsewhere in early May. That would be May 1 on next year's calendar, and George said he would be interested in an event that makes sense for all parties.

That could mean a Midwest oval race. One possibility is at Kansas; this makes sense since IRL officials confirm talks with officials there about adjusting that track's July 4 weekend date.

Also under consideration for pre-Indy dates in '05 are the IRL's Phoenix race (likely to move to early March), Homestead, Japan and St. Petersburg, Florida. It is no secret the IRL wants to be in Long Beach in 2006 after Champ Car's contract there expires.

Changing the 500's start time became a conversation topic during the renegotiating of its television contract with ABC and ESPN, a deal that takes the IRL and Indy through 2009. Ken Ungar, IRL senior vice president of business affairs, wouldn't elaborate on discussions, but said making the 500 a night race was unlikely.