Indy Grand-Am race to become standalone event

Despite the grandstands being empty, IMS thinks this event can stand on its own. Indy fans could care less about sports car racing.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway likely will host a sports car race when Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series reorganize for the 2014 season, but it might not be on NASCAR’s stock car weekend as it has been the past two years.

New IMS president Doug Boles confirmed to The Indianapolis Star that there are several dates being discussed, including a possible pairing with the IndyCar Series for a doubleheader in early May.

An event to August or September is also possible.

Boles called the May event “conceptual" at this point. It would kickoff Indianapolis 500 activities for the oval track.

IMS also has an option to end the MotoGP event held each August since 2008. This year’s event is Aug. 16-18.

Boles said he went to Monterey, Calif., last week to meet with Dorna, the sanctioning body of MotoGP, to discuss issues related to next month’s race and the future.

This week’s sports car event had practice and qualifying on Thursday, with a pair of races today. Boles said the preference is to make them events of their own rather than a preliminary to the Sprint Cup Series’ Brickyard 400. Indy Star