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SPORTS Tuesday 14 May 2019
IndyCar and NASCAR roar into showcase month of May

By JENNA FRYER anticipation carries into
AP Auto Racing Writer Tuesday when Indianapolis
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — officially opens for the 500.
The most prolific month in IndyCar is enjoying a resur-
motorsports arrived with gence and slow, steady
two strong races with In- growth in both the series
dyCar and NASCAR both and its spotlight event.
opening May with momen- McLaren is entering the 500
tum-grabbing entertaining as an independent entry
events that should carry — the first McLaren at Indy
the series through their Me- since 1976 — and Fernando
morial Day showcases. Alonso, the popular retired
Simon Pagenaud, his future Formula One champion,
with Team Penske shaky is back for a second at-
because of a 21-race los- tempt at winning the "Triple
ing streak, stalked five-time Crown." Oriol Servia was
IndyCar champion Scott expected to become the
Dixon in the rain around 36th entrant, which means
Indianapolis Motor Speed- real bumping in this week-
way in the closing laps of end's qualifying. Three driv-
its road course race. Then ers won't make the 500, and
the Frenchman completed Penske has joined Michael
a phenomenal late pass Andretti and Chip Ganassi Simon Pagenaud, of France, above, celebrates after winning the Indy GP IndyCar auto race at In-
to win the Grand Prix and among the heavyweight dianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Indianapolis; and below, Brad Keselowski
prove he's fighting hard for owners wondering if Indy- celebrates in Victory Lane following the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in
his job. Car's full-time teams should Kansas City, Kan., Saturday, May 11, 2019. Associated Press
Hours later at Kansas be exempt from bumping.
Speedway, Brad Kesel- A new qualifying format will
owski closed out one of the make for a tense Sunday
more entertaining NASCAR session, all played out live
races of the season with an as NBC rehearses for the
overtime victory that gave 500 and its first broadcast
team owner Roger Penske of one of sports television's
a sweep of the day. More true iconic properties.
specifically, six different NASCAR, meanwhile, has
Penske drivers tallied five its $1 million All-Star event
victories in four series span- Saturday night at Charlotte
ning nine days to open Motor Speedway and with
May — The Captain's favor- it comes a chance for the
ite time of the year. series to string together
Penske, a 17-time winner consecutive competitive
of the Indianapolis 500, this events. A snoozer of a race
year celebrates the 50th two weeks ago at Dover
anniversary of his first Indy created the feeling a driver
entry. mutiny was looming over a
This is a celebratory month rules package that has so
for motorsports, a time for far failed to meet expecta-
series to shine leading into tions.
the Sunday before Memori- NASCAR this season intro-
al Day, considered the big- duced the new package
gest single day of racing in in an effort to improve the
the world. Formula One will racing, but many drivers
scream through the streets warned it wasn't going to The race went to overtime sidering moving the event "You can't test racing in
of Monaco early May 26, work. The package hasn't and the 23 lead changes to Nashville next season if practice because you're
then IndyCar and "The been awful, and many of were one short of the total Speedway Motorsports Inc. not actually racing if you're
Greatest Spectacle in Rac- this year's races have been combined lead changes in can get that property up not racing for money and
ing" take the stage at IMS. watchable, which is an im- both Kansas Cup races last and running. I think (that R&D element)
NASCAR closes the day provement from last sea- year. Smith still believes Saturday is an important part from
with the Coca-Cola 600, son. But the package has That gives hope for the All- night at Charlotte will be a a competition standpoint
a grueling race of attrition not lived up to the hype Star race, which last year show unlike any other on of the All-Star race," Smith
and one of the few remain- and drivers have voiced was a de facto test of the the NASCAR calendar, and said. "But from a fan and a
ing crown jewel events on their frustration. new rules package. The another opportunity for the driver standpoint, it is very
the schedule. Many drivers spent last race was created as a series to shine during this similar to what happens in
The stage is set for IndyCar week complaining NAS- no-holds-barred Saturday important month. He's a the NBA with the All-Star
and NASCAR to dazzle a CAR will not listen to their night shootout for a cool $1 huge supporter of NASCAR Game, or Major League
new audience, make new input and the lousy Dover million payday and for two using the event to test new Baseball during its All-Star
fans, and prove racing isn't race is the just result. But decades it delivered. But rules and ideas, as well as week — it is a change of
a dying sport. then came Saturday night the luster has worn off — opening up research and pace, a marker in the sea-
Both series got strong starts at Kansas Speedway, in partly because the racing development to teams in son that people can kind
with last Saturday's double- cooler temperatures, and just hasn't been very good what could be a showcase of let their hair down a little
header, a Pagenaud and the package finally deliv- — and Charlotte track pres- of the greatest minds in the bit, have fun and do some-
Keselowski sweep, and the ered a compelling race. ident Marcus Smith is con- sport. thing different."q