| IndyCar racing is an annual sporting exhibition that | | | | outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" Racing League |
| takes drivers through a rotating combination of | | | | (IRL) tickets</a> in the near future, |
| road courses and oval tracks, with the | | | | especially as the new titles will heat up the |
| championship title each year going to the one | | | | competition on the racing scene. Drivers like |
| driver who shows the most dexterity at racing | | | | Danica Patrick can start focusing on the ovals |
| both track types. The IRL has functioned with this | | | | championship while top road performers like Tony |
| championship format for years, but under the | | | | Kanaan continue to go all out on street courses, |
| leadership of new IRL CEO Randy Bernard, things | | | | helping develop all kinds of storylines running into |
| are about to change. | | | | the thick of the IRL season. |
| Much to the approval of several IndyCar drivers | | | | While Randy Bernard's new policy for IndyCar |
| and fans, Bernard has put into place two new | | | | championships continues to take root on the |
| titles that drivers will soon be vying for. Bernard's | | | | racing scene, details are still being sketched about |
| slight change in the organization of the IRL has | | | | how the two new titles will evolve. The honoree |
| created two different championship titles; one for | | | | for the road and oval course championships will be |
| the driver with the most points on oval courses | | | | announced at the Firestone 550K in Texas this |
| and another for the driver with the most points | | | | June (the Indy Star suggests it will be named |
| on street/road circuits. These two titles will | | | | after A.J. Foyt), and the honoree for the road |
| coexist with the overall IRL championship title, | | | | course will be announced during the first weekend |
| which is the whopper for the series. | | | | in July at the Camping World Grand Prix at The |
| Starting this season, drivers can win one of the | | | | Glen in New York. |
| categories (road or oval) without winning the | | | | The new IRL championship series structure will |
| overall IndyCar Series title, allowing drivers who | | | | affect most every driver in the IndyCar Series, |
| favor one type of track the opportunity to shine | | | | but will have the most significant impact on this |
| at one or the other, also adding more excitement | | | | year's frontrunners. Ryan Hunter-Reay, currently |
| to the IRL circuit at the same time. Speaking with | | | | (as of April 28) in first place in driver standings |
| the Indianapolis Star about the decision to add | | | | points, seems to be onboard for the new league |
| oval and road course titles to the IndyCar Series, | | | | change, telling IndyCar.com, "It's the only racing |
| Bernard said, "This could help us with people like | | | | series in the world that does that with the street |
| Sarah Fisher, who wants to run strictly ovals. But | | | | courses, road courses, mile-and-a-half super |
| she might put Graham Rahal in the car for | | | | speedways and short ovals. So it's great to |
| non-ovals; he could come in and win a | | | | highlight that and give it some recognition, but |
| championship. Danica (Patrick), she's already gone | | | | what really matters is winning the Indy 500 and |
| on record saying she doesn't like the non-ovals, | | | | winning the series championship." |
| well, maybe she could win the championship. This | | | | Who will this year's three IndyCar Series |
| helps create story lines for the stars." | | | | champions be and will one driver be able to |
| The IRL's new championship structure is sure to | | | | capture all three titles at once? It's all to come |
| sell more <a rel="nofollow" | | | | this season as the IRL kicks into full gear. |
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