Bernard likes both ovals and road courses

Kansas is the first of eight oval tracks on the 2010 schedule, with nine street and road circuits mixed in.

Randy Bernard said he likes that blend and conveyed it to officials representing the Kansas track and Chicagoland Speedway in a pair of Friday meetings.

Proof, the series' new CEO said, is the new awards to be given out this year: champions of the ovals and non-ovals.

"For that to work we've got to have a good mix of tracks," he said. "But we need to be at the ones who want us most."

Bernard didn't mention tracks by name, but New Hampshire Motor Speedway has shown the most interest the past two years.

Former Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Joie Chitwood, now the vice president of business for International Speedway Corp., which owns Kansas, Chicagoland and others, attended those meetings. He said he likes Bernard's "energy" and will support his cause if it makes business sense.

A crowd estimated at 40,000 is expected for today's race [which is way down from when IndyCar first started to race there]. Indy Star