SPEEDtv's Robin Miller reports that IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard has proposed a doubleheader deal with Charlotte Motor Speedway that would pay $20 million to any driver winning the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, but that the potential deal was leaked prematurely by CMS owner Bruton Smith.
Miller says Bernard came up with the idea two months ago but was keeping it quiet until the Indianapolis Motor Speedway board signed off on it. However, Smith referenced the idea in an interview with SPEED's Wendy Venturini on Thursday's edition of the network's NASCAR Race Hub show.
"I'm working on something now that I thought would be great, for say, next year. And that is, maybe we'll do something that would cause drivers to get more interested in running (the Indianapolis 500) and then coming here…1,100 miles of racing. It would take a Superman-type of driver to (win both events)."
The chances of drivers doing the Indy/Charlotte double have been effectively eliminated since Indy set back its start time, but Smith told Venturini, "I've talked to Indianapolis and they would start their race at 11 o'clock."