Overbuilt MIS to eliminate grandstands

To avoid the embarrassment of huge sections of fans dressed as empty bleacher seats, Michigan Speedway will reduce the capacity of their grandstand (A total of five of the silver grandstands will be removed) to about 85,000 seats.

That is a reduction from a high of 137,243 grandstand seats at the track in 2005, which puts them about where they were at in 1996 when CART was still racing there and putting on some of the greatest racing in the history of the track and of IndyCar.

They also repaved the track, so could IndyCar return?

“This is one of those these things we were told, ‘If you build it, they will come.’ We paved it. Let’s see if they come," said track boss Roger Curtis.

The repaving project is part of nearly $10 million in capital improvements at the track in 2011. That brings the total reinvestment into the track to about $70 million in the last five years, according to Curtis.

In addition to the repaving, the speedway is undergoing other capital improvements this offseason, which will include a new tram plaza in Turn 4 to help move fans around the 1,400 acres of MIS.

The speedway will also offer a deluxe trackside campground that overlooks Turn 3. Those 20 RV-ready campsites will be priced at $1,600 per site plus $250 per person up to 10 people for the race weekend. Included will be race scanners, weekend pit passes, concierge service and two garage passes.