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NASCAR drivers eager to test their skills on Indianapolis' oval after 3 years on the road course

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NASCAR drivers eager to test their skills on Indianapolis' oval after 3 years on the road course


INDIANAPOLIS – Austin Cindric attended races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway most of his life, dreaming of the day he could compete on the historic 2.5-mile oval.

On Sunday, he’ll finally get a chance to join his racing heroes.

Yes, NASCAR and race officials ended their three-year attempt to rev up fans with a 200-mile road-course event by returning to the track’s more revered oval and original title, Brickyard 400, for the 30th anniversary of Cup racing in Indy.

“I do love this racetrack and I’ve watched way more laps on the oval than I’ve driven,” said Cindric, the son of Team Penske President Tim Cindric. “You know, I haven’t experienced the Brickyard 400 myself, so I’m certainly excited to see what it’s all like and at least drive the correct direction around the track.”

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It won’t be an entirely new experiences for Cindric.

He did start two Xfinity races on the oval before becoming a full-time Cup driver in 2022. But even this 25-year-old rising star recognizes that winning on the road course, as he did in the 2021 Xfinity race in Indy, wasn’t the same.

Cindric is hardly an anomaly. He was one of 10 drivers turning their first official Cup-level laps in Friday’s lone practice session. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday afternoon with the race set for Sunday.

Like many drivers, though, Cindric and many other drivers thought the change was long overdue.

“Even when I won here in 2020, it was on the road course and to me, I still kissed the same bricks, I still climbed the same fence, I was still inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway and I was a winner here,” Chase Briscoe said. “But I mean, it certainly means a little bit more, when it’s on the oval. When you think about the history of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the history is on the oval. It’s not on the road course.”

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Series and track officials have spent decades searching for ways to bring back the large crowd that welcomed the inaugural Brickyard race 1994 and really started waning after the 2008 race was marred by tire wear.

They changed the dates, moving it to September, even making it the final race before the playoff before settling on July. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, they added an IndyCars to the weekend schedule, creating a rare double feature of America’s top two racing series in one place and they used the Xfinity race as a road-course test run.

One year later, all three series were on the road course, and the complaints never really dissipated. So the decision-makers heeded the calls and returned to the oval — minus the open-wheel cars — to the delight of many.

“I don’t think anyone considered the road course a crown jewel race, so it kind of returns back to that status,” said Brad Keselowski, whose 2018 race win makes him the most recent Indy oval winner in the field. “I think that’s huge for our sport and it means a lot to me as a driver and I’m assuming it does for the other drivers as well. So, a welcome return. For me, winning this race and having your name on that crown jewel list, it’s really special.”

Whether racing on the oval helps ticket sales remains unclear though the brief practice session in these newer Cup cars had some drivers, such as Keselowski, contending they behaved more like IndyCars on the track.

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Clearly, that won’t be the only difference Sunday. Pit lane may be more crowded, strategies will change and even Michael McDowell acknowledged he would have a significantly better chance defending his 2023 race win — on the road course.

Still, most believe changing courses is the right call.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us to get back to that tradition,” Tyler Reddick said after posting the fastest lap in practice at 182.582 mph. “This is a really tricky race and there was an outcry for wanting to try something different. But I think it’s just the nature of Indianapolis, it desires perfection. If you want to win the race, you can’t have a mistake,”

Reddick sits third in the standings, 15 points behind Chase Elliott with five races left before the playoffs begin.

But to Cindric, who spent his childhood mingling with some of history’s best racers and around one of the world’s most famous tracks, nothing compares to what he’ll experience for the first time this weekend.

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“My earliest memories of racing are at this racetrack, watching cars go around this track more so than anywhere else — on both sides of my family,” he said. “So from that standpoint, when I think of racing, this is what I think of.”

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.





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Indianapolis, IN

IMPD: Person shot in vicinity of East Washington Street gas station

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IMPD: Person shot in vicinity of East Washington Street gas station


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A person was shot Sunday afternoon at a gas station along East Washington Street in Indianapolis, police said.

Medics and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were called about 5:10 p.m. Sunday to a report of a person shot and an unsafe gunshot scene at 4415 E. Washington St. That’s the address of a Citgo gas station located a few blocks west of Emerson Avenue.

The person shot was stable, awake and breathing, IMPD said in a media notification. IMPD did not plan to provide any more information from the crime scene on Sunday.

No additional information was immediately available, including whether the area was safe or if a suspect was in custody or being sought.

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Multiple Fatal Shootings Rock Indianapolis in Overnight Violence

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Multiple Fatal Shootings Rock Indianapolis in Overnight Violence


Source: KiddNation / Kidd Nation

Multiple Fatal Shootings Rock Indianapolis in Overnight Violence

INDIANAPOLIS — A series of overnight shootings across Indianapolis left at least two people dead and several others injured, capping a violent stretch that kept police and emergency crews moving from scene to scene late Saturday into early Sunday.

Officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were dispatched to multiple locations across the city over a span of several hours. Each call involved reports of gunfire, and in several cases, victims were found suffering from gunshot wounds when officers arrived.

On the near north side, police discovered a victim who had been shot. Medics attempted life saving measures at the scene, but the individual was pronounced dead. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity as they work to notify family members.

A second deadly shooting unfolded on the west side of the city. In that case, officers again arrived to find a victim in critical condition. The individual was transported for medical care but later died from their injuries. Investigators have not disclosed what led up to the shooting.

Beyond the two fatalities, several other people were wounded in separate incidents across Indianapolis during the same time period. Some victims were taken to area hospitals in stable condition, while others suffered more serious injuries. Police have not confirmed an exact total of those hurt, but officials described the number of incidents as significant for a single night.

Detectives believe the shootings occurred in different areas and under separate circumstances. At this stage, there is no clear indication that the incidents are connected, though investigators are continuing to examine any possible links. Crime scene technicians worked through the night collecting evidence, while detectives began interviewing witnesses and reviewing any available surveillance footage.

No arrests have been announced in connection with the shootings. Police are asking anyone with information to contact authorities, stressing that tips from the public can play a critical role in identifying those responsible.

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The wave of violence comes as Indianapolis continues to confront ongoing concerns about gun violence, particularly during weekend hours when multiple incidents often occur within a short period of time. City leaders and community leaders have repeatedly emphasized the need for conflict resolution, responsible gun ownership, and stronger community engagement to help reduce these incidents.

As the investigations continue, families are left mourning loved ones while police work to determine what sparked the deadly encounters and who may be responsible.



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A Fan’s Guide to the Indianapolis Colts’ 2026 Offseason Calendar

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A Fan’s Guide to the Indianapolis Colts’ 2026 Offseason Calendar


The Indianapolis Colts began Phase 1 of their offseason schedule with voluntary work on April 21st, right in the thick of draft week. This period focuses on meetings, strength training, and rehabilitation before the team ramps up its workload for the rest of the summer.

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Veterans quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. and cornerback Kenny Moore II have been away from the team as they remain on the trade block.

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While work thus far has not been open to the media, there will be plenty of opportunity moving forward to get a closer look at the younger, faster Colts.

Here’s a look at the key dates Colts faithful will want to circle on their calendars, along with the media’s scheduled access dates (subject to change at the team’s discretion).

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Rookie Minicamp: May 8-9

The 2026 Colts’ draftees get their on-field debut in their team-issued apparel as they take the field alongside undrafted free agents and prospects invited to participate for a try-out.

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Most notably, it’ll be interesting to see where the Colts’ first two draft selections — defenders CJ Allen and A.J. Haulcy — are being used in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme.

This two-day glorified oreientation of sorts will feature far less team-based activities than it will individual drills and general acclimation to the pros, but it’s still a worthy introduction nonetheless.

This padless, non-contact minicamp is meant to familiarize the amatuers more than it’s meant to baptize them by fire, and head coach Shane Steichen will be sure to deliver that message.

OTA Offseason Workouts: May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4

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Colts Trent Pennix(36), Evan Hull (26) and Adonai Mitchell (10) team up for the next drils during Indianapolis Colts minicamp practice Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. | Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

This is the third and final phase of the offseason program, the first portion of the offseason where the offense and defense can come together for some 11-on-11 work.

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With quarterback Daniel Jones, wide receiver Alec Pierce, and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner all set to be sidelined until at least training camp as they rehab their respective injuries, their presence will be greatly missed as far as teambuilding goes. On the flip side, at least those Colts below them on the depth chart will get some valuable run in their time away.

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The on-field work will still be a non-contact simulation, though this is the first time when the veterans and the rookies will come together for practice. These workouts are still voluntary for the vets; it won’t truly be a first full look at the projected 2026 roster together, but that comes not too long after OTAs conclude.

Mandatory Minicamp: June 9-11

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Offensive tackles, guards, centers and others run drills during Indianapolis Colts minicamp practice Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. | Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

This will be the biggest offseason event yet, as it will be the closest we get to a real Colts practice. Unlike OTAs, which are voluntary, this minicamp requires that all members of the team be in attendance.

These sessions are more or less like the beginning of the training camp cycle, a period that features a similar practice regimen while still being padless and non-contact.

This will give us a closer look at how rookies are adjusting to the next level after being a month in, as well as provide a sneak peek as to which on-field chemistries are brewing.

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