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TMS Gets the Indy Edge

Fort Worth speedway gets the first race after the Indy 500.

Friday, Jul 31, 2009 | Updated 7:00 PM CST

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Helio Castroneves celebrates in victory lane by screwing his name plate onto the wall of fame after winning the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images)

Next stop for the IndyCar Series after Indianapolis: Texas Motor Speedway.

Texas will still be two weeks after the Indianapolis 500 next year, but unlike the past four years, there won't be another race between Indy and Texas.

"I think that with this situation, everyone wins," said Helio Castroneves, who won at Indianapolis and Texas this year.

TMS officials said Friday that the Indy Racing League schedule for next year has the Texas race June 12, two weeks after the Indianapolis 500.

In the open-wheel series' first nine seasons from 1997-2005, there had always been an open week between Texas and Indianapolis. But there had been races between the series' two top-drawing events the past two years, including Milwaukee the past three years.

"I think it's great to have a week off between the Indianapolis 500 and the next IndyCar Series event at Texas Motor Speedway," Castroneves said. "This will not only give everyone a chance for a week of much needed rest, but it will also allow more promotion of the Indy 500 winner."