Indy considering installing lights:

Indy considering installing lights: Despite attendance struggles at the Brickyard 400 (now known as the Crown Royal presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard) over the past five years, there's no talk from NASCAR or Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials about discontinuing the race. IMS officials said the commitment on both sides couldn't be stronger for continuing the race long-term and making it stronger than it currently is. "I don't think either party could be more secure in its relationship with [the] other," said IMS spokesman Doug Boles. "There is no thought internally or within NASCAR that this race shouldn't continue." To bolster sagging attendance, Speedway officials are breaking new ground this year and may be willing to break even more ground in future years. For the first time, the IMS will host Grand Am and NASCAR Nationwide races over the weekend in conjunction with the Sprint Cup headliner on Sunday. More radical changes could be coming. Speedway officials this week told IBJ that they have discussed installing lights at the massive facility a project that would cost tens of millions of dollars to allow races at night, particularly NASCAR events. "Those types of discussions are more common now than they were even a year and a half ago," Boles said. "One consideration is it would allow us to get fans out of the heat of the day." Erecting lights would be a major departure for Speedway officials, who previously have shunned the idea. IMS stands as one of the few major race tracks nationally without lights.(Indianapolis Business Journal)(7-28-2012)