IRL and TMS nearing deal for 2006

The IRL is “close to reaching" a deal to return to Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in ‘06, but the race “no longer will be the event immediately after the Indianapolis 500," according to sources cited by Terry Blount of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Kansas Speedway’s IRL race is expected to move from early July to June 4, with the TMS race on June 10. TMS President Eddie Gossage “was at odds with IRL officials" over their decision to race at TMS on the weekend after the Indy 500, so the IRL gave him the option of “moving the TMS event to the first weekend in June." Gossage did not want that date because the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, which races the night before the track’s Saturday IRL event, “couldn’t race at TMS that weekend" DALLAS MORNING NEWS