Indianapolis “News” and Notes


—It was looking like just another dull race ahead for Nascar at the Brickyard, but then came the announcement.  A driver was making a comeback.  And not just any driver, but one that Nascar fans had been missing for far too long.  That’s right: Patrick Carpentier returns this weekend!
Anticipation is high for two of these racers
—In related news, it’s great to see Nascar teams giving local drivers a shot, if only for a race or two, in a Cup car lately: Last weekend with the 32 team putting Rowley, Massachusetts native Eddie MacDonald in the car, and this weekend with the 88 team putting Pittsboro, Indiana’s Jeff Gordon in the car.
—While it sucks not having the Xfinity Series at the more-exciting of the two Indianapolis racetracks, it’s hard to argue with the results on the business side of having the support series at IMS.  Just look at the blue-chippers coming on board for this weekend: JT Concrete, Lyndhurst Lawnmower, NiceTargets, and even Tredwear!
—Its nice to see Nascar continuing to honor its roots by holding a race on dirt that nobody can watch.
—The search for a title sponsor for the Cup Series continues, with Hisense (a maker of high-end tv’s) rumored to be the front-runner.  Meanwhile, will Sprint’s departure open the doors to more wireless phone companies sponsoring cars in Cup next year?  I really want to know, so I can prepare myself for seeing a bright-magenta T-Mobile car.