Indycar Series Weekend Aug. 26-27 At World Wide Technology Raceway

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Published on August 17 2023 6:05 am
Last Updated on August 17 2023 6:05 am

ST. LOUIS  – World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, will present the seventh annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline NTT INDYCAR SERIES Weekend on August 26-27.

The cars and stars of the Indianapolis 500 will take to WWTR’s challenging 1.25-mile oval on Sunday, August 27 at 2:30 p.m. Central for the grueling, 260-lap Bommarito Automotive Group 500. The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 is the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ final oval race of the 2023 season. The USAC Silver Crown Series will kick off the Sunday afternoon of auto racing action with the OUTFRONT 100 at 12:15 p.m.

The INDY NXT series takes center stage on Saturday, August 26, with the OUTFRONT Showdown. INDY NXT is a developmental feeder series, one step away from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. INDYCAR practice and qualifying also will take place on Saturday.

The Vintage Indy exhibit will be on track both days with vintage Indy Car exhibition runs on both days. The restored cars, ranging from the 1930s to 1980s, will be on display on the midway both days. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 2001 WWTR victor Al Unser Jr. will drive the Vintage Indy pace car during exhibition runs and will greet fans at the midway display.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato scored the closest Bommarito 500 victory in WWTR history, taking the checkered flag over Ed Carpenter by just .040 seconds in 2019.

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden has won four of the seven Bommarito 500s held at WWTR.

“I absolutely love racing in St. Louis,” said Newgarden. “World Wide Technology Raceway is a high-commitment track. It’s different from the other short ovals we go to. It’s on the longer end of what would be considered a short oval. But it’s still tight, compact short-oval racing. Just really high-speed commitment and I think that’s what makes me like this place. I love a race track where you’ve got to be committed in the corners. This track requires that. It’s smooth. It’s high grip. You’re able to carry a lot of speed for a long duration in places like Turns 3 and 4. That kind of racing style is something that I love. It’s part of the reason why we’ve had success here.”

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou is the current NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader, followed by Scott Dixon in second and Newgarden in third.

Three NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams and seven drivers will test at WWTR in preparation for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 on Thursday, August 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. One section of the WWTR grandstands will be open free of charge to spectators.

Past WWTR Indy Car winners include:

1997    Paul Tracy

1998    Alex Zanardi

1999    Michael Andretti

2000    Juan Pablo Montoya

2001    Al Unser Jr.

2002    Gil de Ferran

2003    Helio Castroneves

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

2017    Josef Newgarden

2018    Will Power

2019    Takuma Sato

2020    Scott Dixon (first race)
            Josef Newgarden (second race of the weekend)

2021    Josef Newgarden

2022    Josef Newgarden

For INDYCAR tickets and information, please call WWTR at (618) 215-8888 or visit wwtraceway.com. Follow @WWTRaceway on social media.

Seventh annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 INDYCAR Weekend August 26-27 at World Wide Technology Raceway

BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Weekend fan schedule

Saturday, August 26 – INDY NXT race, INDYCAR practice and qualifying

7 a.m. – Parking lots open.

7:30 a.m. – Spectator gates open. Paddock and Gateway Garage Experience open.

8 a.m. – Vintage Indy exhibition.

8:55 a.m. – INDY NXT practice.

10 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice.

11:45 a.m. – INDY NXT qualifying.

1 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying.

2:35 p.m. – INDY NXT OUTFRONT Showdown race.

4 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group A highline practice.

4:15 p.m. –  NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group B highline practice.

4:45 p.m. –  NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice (all cars, 60 minutes).

7:30 p.m. –  Paddock and Gateway Garage Experience closed.

Sunday, August 27 – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 INDYCAR race, USAC Silver Crown Series

7 a.m. – Parking lots open.

7:30 a.m. –  Spectator gates open. Paddock and Gateway Garage Experience open.

8 a.m. –  USAC Silver Crown Series practice.

9 a.m. – Vintage Indy exhibition.

10:15 a.m. – USAC Silver Crown Series qualifying.

11 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver autograph session.

12 p.m. – USAC Silver Crown Series pre-race ceremonies.

12:15 p.m. – USAC Silver Crown Series OUTFRONT 100 (80 laps, 100 miles, 60 minutes).

1:55 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline driver introductions.

2:19 p.m. – Invocation and national anthem.

2:22 p.m. – Command for drivers to cars.

2:35 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (260 laps, 325 miles).

5:30 p.m. – Paddock and Gateway Garage Experience closed.