IndyCar Joins Indy 8H Weekend; Race to Pay GTWC Points

Photo: SRO

The NTT IndyCar Series will race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the same weekend as the Indianapolis 8 Hour, bringing together both championships for the first time.

In its revised 2020 schedule released on Monday afternoon, IndyCar has added a third event at Indianapolis, the Harvest GP, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3 ahead of the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli round.

The inaugural Indianapolis 8H has kept its original date of Sunday, Oct. 4, and will get underway as planned at 10 a.m. local time.

SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO Stephane Ratel described it as a “real privilege” to run alongside IndyCar.

“Sharing Intercontinental GT Challenge’s Indianapolis debut with one of America’s biggest sports categories is a real privilege for everyone at SRO,” he said.

“IndyCar, as well as its cast of world-class drivers and teams, requires no introduction. It also completes a blockbuster weekend at the Brickyard featuring the best of GTs, touring cars and open-wheelers.

“Indeed, we’re also delighted to include GT World Challenge America’s teams and drivers within the Indianapolis 8 Hour, many of whom can compete simultaneously for domestic and overall honors, as well as Intercontinental GT Challenge manufacturer points.”

The Indianapolis 8H will be the fourth of five rounds in the globe-trotting IGTC season, and replaces the California 8 Hours as the series’ North American round. 

Race to Pay Points for GTWC America

The Indianapolis 8H will now serve as the season finale for GT World Challenge America powered by AWS after a reversal of the initial decision to make it an optional round.

Full points will be awarded to GTWC America competitors after three hours, the equivalent of the series’ usual two 90-minute race format.

The race was initially listed as a points-paying round for the national championship but later became an optional race following criticism from teams that had cost concerns over running the full eight hours. 

Pirelli GT4 America, GT Sports Club America and TC America will all be on the support bill.

GTWC America’s full revised calendar will be announced at a later date.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.