Grand-Am to replace F1 at Indy

Jokingly asked if NASCAR had an interest in filling Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course date vacated by Formula One, sanctioning body president Mike Helton smiled and said, "No, but I know somebody who does."

Helton went on to suggest the France family-backed Grand American Sports Car Series would be a good fit, and he said Speedway officials could expect a call.

Helton also noted Speedway CEO Tony George knows the Grand Am series from the inside after driving in this year's Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. George owns a Daytona Prototype he used to field Vision Racing drivers Tomas Scheckter, Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV in the late-January event.

Speedway president Joie Chitwood, having just completed a three-year deal to run a MotoGP motorcycle race on a reconfigured infield circuit starting in September 2008, is in no hurry to pursue other options. But he did not discourage Grand Am officials from initiating a dialogue.

"We've had that call before. Nothing substantial. It's always just been in passing," he said. "But, yeah, it's something to talk about. There are a lot of opportunities out there. Who knows what's next." Indy Star

[Editor's Note: This is the most preposterous proposal we have ever heard. The Grand-Am draws near-zero fans. Image how those massive empty grandstands at Indy would look! If any series should run the road course to replace F1 it should be Champ Car but Tony George's ego would never let that happen.]