Jul 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A general view of the Speedway Water Tower located outside of the track that can be seen from the first turn during the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Why the Xfinity Series Needs to Return to Lucas Oil Raceway

Why the Xfinity Series Needs to Return to Lucas Oil Raceway by Alex Herbst

As NASCAR languishes under dropping attendance and lower TV ratings, IndyCar is trying to make its brand and racing more well known. Maybe the Brickyard can help both series.

Did you think the 2016 Brickyard 400 was missing some pizzazz? If you did, you were not alone.

There was a noticeably small crowd gathered to watch the NASCAR race last Sunday at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While the league stopped publishing official numbers in 2012, many sources including the Indianapolis Star commented on the race’s decreased attendance.

And while NASCAR’s gate totals are down, IndyCar continues to search for brand recognition and a wider audience.

But perhaps Indy provides a solution that could work to the benefit of both major racing series – having an IndyCar star participate in the NASCAR event.

When NASCAR first arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it did catch the attention of a number of open-wheel drivers. A.J. Foyt took laps in a stock car around the track, as did now-Chairman of the Board Tony George.

A number of leading IndyCar stars would eventually race in the Brickyard 400, including A.J. and Larry Foyt, Danny Sullivan, and Jacques Villeneuve. The last to do so was Danica Patrick, after she left IndyCar for NASCAR.

So is it time for another IndyCar driver to attempt the feat?

There would be challenges; most notably, the low downforce style of stock car racing would conflict with the higher downforce that has become standard in IndyCar. That would require an ample amount of testing before going to strap into one of the fast stock cars for any current open wheel driver.

But he limitations would appear to be fewer than for other races for a crossover. IndyCar generally does not schedule a race that competes with the NASCAR event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

And while some IndyCar owners would be wary to have their driver try something new and risk injury, the benefits for both series are clear – more exposure for IndyCar, and a new storyline for NASCAR.

Certainly many will argue against the idea of IndyCar crossing over, because of their disdain for stock car racing on hallowed open-wheel racing ground.

However, consider what has happened in the other direction. NASCAR veterans Kurt Busch, Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart have all run “The Double” on Memorial Day weekend – participating in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 – and both series reaped the benefits.

It’s not unreasonable that the same exposure could happen with an IndyCar driver in the Brickyard 400.

Would you like to see an IndyCar driver run in NASCAR at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Who do you think could succeed making the crossover?