A new rush for Self

IRL could return to speedway in April

? Bill Self gave a single thumbs-up after contorting his body into the back of the IndyCar.

A few minutes later, he gave a sigh of relief after surviving a few laps at more than 170 mph.

“That was something,” Self said. “I never expected the rush to be like that.”

The Kansas University basketball coach was one of around 50 people who participated in the Indy Racing Experience on Sunday at Kansas Speedway. The event allowed riders to experience the feel of a true IndyCar stretched to fit a driver and passenger.

Self said he only made the decision to go through with it the day before.

“I got a call from a good friend of mine, and he said, ‘Hey, you want to do this?'” Self said. “He’s been trying to get me to do this for a while. I said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’

“That was even more than I thought it would be.”

The coach – who enjoyed the straightaways most because it put less stress on his body – said he wouldn’t have minded a few more trips around the track.

“I could have gone the whole race, I think,” Self said with a laugh.

Kansas university basketball coach bill self, left, and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius wait in line together before riding in the Indy Racing Experience. Self and Sebelius separately rode in the two-seat IndyCar at over 170 mph Sunday at the Kansas Speedway.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius also suited up and was a passenger in the IndyCar driven by veteran racer Davey Hamilton.

“I have a new appreciation for these drivers,” Sebelius said. “I have a new appreciation for how tight that space is and how much they are part of the road. You can feel every turn. You can feel the acceleration.”

Like Self, Sebelius said her Indy experience was more than worth the trip.

“I hung on tight and did a little whooping,” Sebelius said. “I was having a good time.”

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When the Indy Racing League returns to Kansas Speedway next year, the hot temperatures might not come with it.

Discussions are under way between IRL officials and speedway president Jeff Boerger to move next year’s event from the summer to the spring.

“We understand our fans come first,” Boerger said, “and the heat has become somewhat of an issue.”

One proposal would move the event to late April, when the average temperature would be around 65 degrees.

“We’re excited about that as a potential for moving forward in 2007,” IRL president Brian Barnhart said. “It would be great to have Kansas as a platform leading into the Indianapolis 500.”

Currently, the Twin Ring Montegi in Japan holds the race before the Indy 500. Barnhart said ideally that date would move to the States, helping to build excitement for the IRL’s biggest event.

“We need to get back on the domestic radar of the fans and the media,” Barnhart said, “and I think we can do it.”

Many factors, including television and the availability of support series like the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, stand in the way of a possible date change.