INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is adding an October race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The INDYCAR Harvest GP will take place Saturday, Oct. 3.
IndyCar made the announcement Monday. The new event is an addition to an already busy weekend at IMS. The previously announced Indianapolis 8 Hour beginning at 10 a.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 4. The event will feature the first-ever combination of the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli with its North American counterpart, GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS.
"INDYCAR in October at IMS might bring slightly cooler weather but will definitely be warmly embraced by our fans," IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. "Paired with the Indianapolis 8 Hour, we're set for a can't-miss fall weekend of motorsports at The Racing Capital of the World."
The INDYCAR Harvest GP will pay tribute to the Harvest Classic, a racing event held in September 1916. It was the only racing event at IMS held outside of May from 1911 through 1993. The event featured three races, and driver Johnny Aitken won them all.
The GMR Grand Prix and the Big Machine Vodka 400 are both scheduled to run Fourth of July weekend. The Indianapolis 500, which was initially set May 24 was rescheduled for Aug. 23.
IMS is expected to release a full track schedule for Sept. 30 through Oct. 4 soon.
