IndyCar Series set for New Hampshire return in July 2011

IndyCar Series returns to New Hampshire

LOUDON, N.H. — The IndyCar Series will return to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July 2011.

The open-wheel series will end its 13-year absence from the track July 30-31, 2011. Speedway Motorsports Inc. CEO Bruton Smith and IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard made the announcement before Sunday’s NASCAR race.

Bernard says he wanted to add a short oval to the schedule and increase open-wheel’s presence in the Northeast.

Two Sprint Cup races are held on the track every year, including Sunday’s race and one on Sept. 19 that starts the Chase for the championship.

Bernard also wants to move the Indianapolis 500 back to its traditional 11 a.m. start time to give drivers a chance at competing at Indy and that night in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.