Blind draw part of IndyCar twin races at Texas

[March 04, 2011]  FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- The rules have been set for the twin IndyCar Series races at Texas in June.

The Firestone Twin 275s, dual races with two different winners, will replace the single 550-kilometer (342 miles) race at the high-banked track that is one of the fastest in the series.

One of the biggest twists is that starting grid for the second race will be determined by a blind draw. Teams will have one hour between the races to prepare their cars, and can use a backup car if needed in the second race.

Danica Patrick, at Texas Motor Speedway on Wednesday for the track's media day, says she likes the change and doing "something different."

It will be the first twin bill in U.S. open-wheel racing since 1981.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN HAWKINS]

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