Pocono race extended

The Pocono race was increased from 400-miles to 500-miles.

INDYCAR fans in the northeast will get more racing on July 4 weekend.

Pocono Raceway announced its IndyCar Series event will be called the Pocono INDYCAR 500 fueled by Sunoco, and add 100 miles (50 laps) to the series' return to the "Tricky Triangle."

"I'm very excited about these changes for 2014," said Brandon Igdalsky, Pocono Raceway President and CEO. "After last year's IndyCar Series race, droves of open-wheel fans immediately took to our social media channels, sent emails, called us to let us know they wanted more.

"The fans spoke, we listened and we made some changes. The one thing not changing next season, however, will be the ticket prices to see these great, competitive events!"

The historic return of Indy car racing to Pocono Raceway in 2013 started with Pennsylvania-native Marco Andretti breaking the track qualifying record and saw a race featuring daring passes, average lap speeds surpassing 196 miles per hour and a late-race strategy which paid off in victory.

2013 IZOD IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon won the long anticipated 400-mile race and kicked off a mid-season reawaking, which eventually led to his third championship.

"I think this is really exciting for Pocono, the drivers and all the Indy car fans out there," Dixon said. "It will certainly change the race strategy at Pocono next year, for sure. This year's race was highly competitive and the addition of 100 miles is going to make it even better."

It also means that the three Fuzzy's Triple Crown races – Indianapolis 500, Pocono INDYCAR 500 and MAVTV 500 – will all be the traditional 500-mile races.

Any driver who wins all three races – a feat only accomplished by Al Unser in 1978 – will earn a $1 million bonus from Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka. A driver who wins two of the three will receive a $250,000 bonus.

"I've also been a huge fan of the (Fuzzy's) Triple Crown races," Dixon said. "And we now have a more defined title with three 500-mile events with history and prestige on the line."