Flash.(Remodeling and renovation of Motor Speedway)

Vegas facelift

Track owner Bruton Smith plans to spend $27 million to renovate his 10-year-old Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The track's banking will increase from 12 to 20 degrees, while Smith also wants to create more viewing areas for fans, similar to the popular Fan Zone at Daytona International Speedway. A new media center, more garage space and a redesigned infield are all part of the renovation, scheduled to begin in March after the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400.

Kentucky suit moves forward

A federal judge ruled that Kentucky Speedway can advance its $400 million antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. The suit accuses NASCAR of conspiring with International Speedway Corp. over which tracks get Nextel Cup races. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston says, "We maintain our sanctioning process is pro-competitive and has been a great benefit to the industry, including fans, sponsors, drivers, teams and tracks.''

New Indy start time

Heads up: Check your Indianapolis 500 tickets (and your clock) before leaving home. For the third straight year the Indy 500 has a new local starting time. For years fans could count on the green flag waving at 11 a.m. local time. But last year track officials switched to noon to improve television ratings on the East and West Coasts.

This year will be different again because most of Indiana is switching to Eastern Daylight Time, and track officials decided to stick with the national TV time slots.