HomeNews and EventsIndy invites historic racers to inaugural Brickyard Vintage races

Indy invites historic racers to inaugural Brickyard Vintage races

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What the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association refers to as “the fourth race in the 2014 East Coast schedule,” figures to be one of the most important in American vintage racing history. Why? Because the venue is the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The inaugural Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational has been announced for June 6-8.

After an understated opening sentence to the SVRA’s new release about the event, the racing group recovered nicely: “This one promises to be a blockbuster for competitors and spectators,” the new release continued.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s announcement noted that more than 500 vintage race cars are expected for races to be held on the track’s recently reconfigured 2.44-mile infield road course. Vintages racers also will “have a chance to drive the historic 2.5 mile oval,” according to the Speedway’s announcement.

Among the cars expected are those that have raced in the Indianapolis 500 as well as in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, Formula One, Grand-Am and the Trans-Am series, along with the regular SVRA classes.

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The incredible heritage and geographic location of the Speedway will make the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational the largest Vintage event ever held in the United States.”

— SVRA president

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“Indianapolis Motor Speedway fans appreciate and enjoy the history of racing and welcoming this event to IMS is the perfect way to celebrate racing history with cars that have competed in all different classes and many different venues over the last 100 years,” J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. said in the track’s news release.

“SVRA events are incredibly fan friendly, offering everyone the rare opportunity to get close to the historic racecars, talk to the owners and drivers, and trade stories about racing’s heritage. When you combine the story of each of the cars competing to the over 100 years of history and stories of competition at IMS, this will be an unforgettable weekend of racing.”

“We are extremely pleased and excited to present the first ever Vintage racing event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said SVRA president Tony Parella. “We are confident that the incredible heritage and geographic location of the Speedway will make the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational the largest Vintage event ever held in the United States.”

A complete racing schedule for the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational will be announced at a later date. The event will begin with a practice day on Thursday, June 5 with free admission for everyone, with racing throughout the weekend beginning on June 6. 

The SVRA news release also noted that, for the first time in Indy speedway history, camping will be allowed in the infield during the vintage racing weekend.

Cars eligible to do laps on the oval will be grouped in four classes: 1900-1942 oval racers, 1943-64 circle track cars, 1965-85 circle track cars and 1966-2000 circle track cars.

“This package will give a driver the chance to experience the legendary 2.5 mile oval with ‘green flag’ conditions on the straightaway and ‘yellow flag’ conditions around the corners,” according to the SVRA. “This will be high speed exhibition hot laps that are not timed. Track time is expected to include 3 separate sessions between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.”

Two special feature races will be staged — one for cars with Brickyard history and  one for cars that have raced in F1 events.

Larry Edsall
Larry Edsall
A former daily newspaper sports editor, Larry Edsall spent a dozen years as an editor at AutoWeek magazine before making the transition to writing for the web and becoming the author of more than 15 automotive books. In addition to being founding editor at ClassicCars.com, Larry has written for The New York Times and The Detroit News and was an adjunct honors professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

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