Celebration of Open Wheel Racing Planned One Week Before Brickyard Invitational
The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) has announced an expansion of its events with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through the “The SVRA Open Wheel World Challenge,” for June 8-11, 2017. The event, planned to occur one week prior to the 2017 Brickyard Invitational, is expected to showcase as many as 500 cars. SVRA officials describe it as an homage to the 50th anniversary of Formula Ford racing. In addition to Formula Ford, any open wheel car, including Formula One, Formula 5000, Indy cars, Indy Lights, Formula Vee, and Formula Junior will be invited. Specific race groups will be established that combine cars of similar speed and will focus on rules for Monoposto, FIA, and SCCA race cars. “So many great drivers got their start with Formula Fords so we want to put a spotlight on the importance of that form of racing,” said SVRA President and CEO Tony Parella. “This is an opportunity for open wheel racers from around the world to experience what it is like to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We expect this event to be the largest gathering of open wheel competition ever assembled”
The success of the Brickyard Invitational over its first three years positioned the SVRA for expansion of its IMS activities. SVRA officials believe adding the open wheel weekend as a precursor to the Brickyard Invitational further leverages the opportunity to bring the racing community together.
“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway runs many types of races and events, but we are still best known through the Indianapolis 500 – the pinnacle of American open wheel racing,” said Doug Boles, President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Fifty years of Formula Ford is a big milestone and we take pride in honoring important history at the Speedway. Tony and all of SVRA have been great partners and we look forward to this event.”Inline image 3
About Indianapolis Motor Speedway - The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, has been the worldwide leader in motorsports entertainment since opening in 1909. Its events in 2016 include the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, the world's largest single-day annual sporting event. Living up to its reputation as the “Racing Capital of the World,” IMS also hosts the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis in the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the Lilly Diabetes 250 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational in the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association and the Red Bull Air Race.
About SVRA - The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association is the premier vintage racing organization in the United States. Founded in 1981 the SVRA has over 2,000 active members. It will sanction 16 events in 2016 at some of the finest racing venues in the United States, including: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sebring, Road America, Watkins Glen, Auto Club Speedway, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Sonoma Raceway, Portland International Raceway, NOLA Motorsports Park and Virginia International Raceway. The rapidly growing organization hosted the first U.S. Vintage Racing National Championships at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas in 2013. Further information on SVRA, a complete annual schedule, and entry lists can be found on the SVRA website. Also be sure to check our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
