Pete Pistone - RacingOne.com

A) How can it be August?, 2) Are they really gonna move the Brickyard to July next year? It's been a brutal summer heat-wise for most of the summer particularly in the Midwest where we saw temperatures in my homebase of Chicago soar over 100 degrees for a number of days. Some of my reporter pals tell me last week's Busch Series race in St. Louis was a scorcher of Hades proportions and as we sit in Indianapolis for the Brickyard and IRP action this weekend, we're broiling again.

Hey it's August and it's summer, I get it. So I guess moving things back a week here next year won't make that much of a difference. But it's been a brutal run lately. We're back on the road this weekend here in Indy and it's hard to believe it's the 13th time the Cup Series will race at IMS. I was one of those that thought it was a great idea when the Brickyard was first proposed, but I really didn't think it would grow into the race it is today. Believe me, if you've never made this trip, put it on your list for next year. The combination of what goes on at 16th street and the short track action at IRP make this a summer "Speedweeks."

On a personal note, thanks for hanging with us through our design changes and roll-out of the new R1. We're close to getting up to full speed and have a bunch of new stuff in the wings as well. Our R1 staff will be trackside at the majority of Cup races down the stretch and into the "Chase" so we're looking forward to bringing you the inside story.

Maybe it'll be a little cooler by October but I'm gonna stop complaining since a Chicago winter is no doubt quickly bearing down on me.