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IMS begins work on safer barriers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Work is about to get underway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to make the two and a half mile oval safer.

Safer barriers are being added along the backstretch at the end of turn two and in the short chute. They will also be added between turns three and four. More than 15,000 additional feet of the steel and foam energy reduction system will be put in place before the month of May begins.

“The first thing we think about is driver and fan safety. So we make decisions around here to make the product better, make the racing better, but we do that through the lens of are we making it safer for the drivers. And are we making sure it’s a good show and it’s also safe for the fans,” said Doug Boles President of IMS.

Adding the barriers will cost about $850,000. IMS was the first track in the nation to install safer barriers. It did so back in 2002.