Kansas City IRL date to change

The weather is heating up again, and so is talk about finding a new date for the Indy Racing League event at Kansas Speedway.

Speedway president Jeff Boerger said Tuesday that talks are being held with the IRL and International Speedway Corp. He said a date in April has been brought up in the talks.

“We are discussing dates as we speak. We are discussing different opportunities for next year," Boerger said during a break in an IRL open test at the speedway. “That does include the potential of a new day."

Danica Patrick, Indianapolis 500 runner-up Marco Andretti and other drivers took to the track for the tests. Two Target Chip Ganassi Racing drivers clocked the fastest laps, with Scott Dixon at 216.021 mph and Dan Wheldon at 214.710 mph.

The IRL has been racing at Kansas Speedway since 2001. Every year, the race has been paired with a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and held on the Fourth of July weekend.

The subject of the Kansas date comes up every year because of the 100-plus-degree temperatures that plagued the event the first couple of years it was held.

Boerger said that in surveys the track has conducted, hot weather was among the factors mentioned by fans.

“Nothing has been signed, nothing is final," Boerger said. “We do not release our schedules until the sanctioning agreements have been completed and both parties agree to everything. But we are optimistic that it’s going to be another exciting year next year and the IRL is going to be back and in full swing."

Boerger said any change of date for the IRL race would have to be to a date that would also be compatible with the trucks series schedule. He said he considers the trucks series “an equal partner" at Kansas Speedway and that the combination of trucks and IRL “is a good show." More at Kansas City Star