More than NASCAR: See racing history at IMS this Brickyard 400 weekend

• The NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 250 is Saturday and the NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 is Sunday, when the series' top drivers will take to the famous oval.
• But first, IMS will host for the first time the opening night of USAC Indiana Sprint Week, a cornerstone of sprint car racing in the Hoosier state for more than three decades.

Why it matters: Racing in Speedway isn't just a May thing, and this weekend will bring thousands of visitors back to the city.

What they're saying: "The addition of sprint cars to our calendar highlights our commitment to showcasing the diversity of motorsports," said Doug Boles, president of IMS, in a news release. "This is more than just a race; it's a celebration of Indiana's racing heritage."

Zoom in: Indiana Sprint Week started in 1988, and many of the sports biggest stars started in sprint cars.

• Thursday's USAC event will run on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3.
• It's the first of eight events at eight racetracks across 10 nights from now through Aug. 2.

If you go: Gates open at 5 Thursday for the USAC event; tickets start at $40.

• Gates open at 10am Friday for practice, with drivers on track from noon-2pm. Tickets start at $20.
• Tickets for Saturday's race start at $40 and Sunday's at $45.