IndyCar fans gather as drivers discuss upcoming return to Milwaukee Mile
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Race car fans packed an auditorium at Carroll University Tuesday night to see some of the biggest names in IndyCar racing talk about their return to the Milwaukee Mile happening this summer.
The last time Indy cars sped around the historic Milwaukee Mile, the year was 2015.
"It's too long, right? I mean it's time for the IndyCar to come back," said Merrill Cain, public relations director of IndyCar.
Race car fans, that's finally going to happen! IndyCar will host the Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Weekend this Labor Day weekend.
"So, start with the Memorial Day weekend, the Indy500. You come to Milwaukee here for Hi-V Milwaukee Mile 250s Labor Day weekend and it's a very important weekend in terms of points and the championship," said Cain.
Labor Day weekend is the second-to-last event on the schedule, so fans can expect to see a lot of battles as drivers look to add points in the championship. It's drivers like reigning Indy500 winner Josef Newgarden. He was part of this panel at Carroll University Tuesday night. We also got to hear from Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Corporation.
One of the biggest names in racing told the panel here that Team Penske's had a lot of luck on oval courses, so they're thrilled to be returning to the Milwaukee Mile's oval track which has seen a lot of improvements since 2015.
"I think that the safety improvements have helped, just updating those. The track looks really great. It looks new, refreshed. So, it's kind of gotten like a facelift and I think people are going to notice that," said Shari Black, executive director and CEO, Wisconsin State Fair Park.
State Fair is serving as promoter for the race, and they'll have their grounds open during the weekend too.
"Our vendors are going to open up. We're going to have live music all throughout the weekend and so people can come enjoy the race and then come into the park," said Black.
They're expecting to sell some 30,000 tickets, and you can purchase them on the Wisconsin State Fair website.