Do IndyCar and Texas Motor Speedway have a future together? Series’ veterans say yes

FORT WORTH, Texas – When Texas Motor Speedway opened 25 years ago, the palatial 1.5-mile speedway on the wind-swept plains of Denton County immediately became a staple of the IndyCar schedule.

Playing host to two annual races from 1998-2004 that once drew crowds of 100,000, Texas was regarded as the second-biggest track in the Indy Racing League (before the 2008 merger with Champ Car brought the Long Beach Grand Prix). It ranked behind only Indianapolis Motor Speedway with its reputation for insane pack racing, razor-tight finishes and bombastic promotion by track president Eddie Gossage.

Scott Dixon has a record five victories at Texas, but the track also holds a special place in the six-time series champion’s heart as where he clinched his first championship with a runner-up finish on Oct. 12, 2003 – during a seven-year run when Texas held the IRL season finale.

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“Obviously, I love this place,” Dixon said. “I think it’s been a lot of highs with the occasional lows. To win my first championship here back was a big moment and something I never thought was possible. It definitely has a sweet spot for me.

“Things have changed a lot in motor racing in general since those days.”

Unfortunately, things especially have changed in IndyCar at Texas, which has turned into a single-groove racetrack for the series since the application of traction compound for its NASCAR races three years ago.

Responding to driver complaints about a treacherous outside lane that races like a sheet of ice, IndyCar ran a special 30-minute practice session Saturday to attempt to work in the high line.

Downforce tweaks also have been added this