Iowa Speedway added to 2007 calendars.

The IRL IndyCar Series has added the brand new Rusty Wallace designed Iowa Speedway to its calendar in 2007.

The Series and the supporting Indy Pro Series will become the first 'major league' American series' to race at the newly designed seven-eighths mile circuit, which is the first driver-designed speedway in the country.

The decision to add Iowa to the 2007 schedule came after Scott Dixon and Wade Cunningham successfully tested their IRL and IPS machines at the venue and the inaugural visit to the track will take place on the weekend currently occupied by the visit to Richmond.

The track, dubbed the 'Rusty Wallace signature track,' will host its first IRL race on June 24th next year with the IPS event running the day before.

"The midwest is home to the core IndyCar Series fan so we are thrilled to partner with Iowa Speedway to bring IndyCar Series racing to Iowa," said Brian Barnhart, president & COO of the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series. "The combination of the Iowa Speedway's 7/8-mile size with the speed and side-by-side action of the IndyCar Series promises to keep race fans on the edge of their seats."

Located near Newton, Iowa - 30 minutes east of Des Moines - Iowa Speedway is located along Interstate 80 adjacent to Newton Airport. The track is being built by the U.S. Motorsport Corporation. The "Rusty Wallace Signature Series Track" will have a seating capacity of 40,000, including 25,000 permanent seats and 15,000 festival seats.

Former NASCAR champion and current ABC Sports/ESPN commentator Wallace is co-designing the state-of-the-art track, which will be the industry's first driver designed speedway

The 7/8-mile tri-oval has a track width of 60 feet with 12-14 degree compound banking in the turns. The front stretch features 10 degrees of banking and the backstretch has 4 degrees of banking. Iowa Speedway is the first track to ever have the SAFER Barrier installed around the entire perimeter of the race track and first to use the New-Age SAFER Barrier, which does not have a concrete wall behind the energy absorbing barrier.

Additionally, Iowa Speedway will also be the first racetrack to have state-of-the-art camera angles with audio embedded in the racing surface similar to how current race facilities have miniature cameras in the walls.

"It will be fan-friendly and driver-friendly, a premier racing facility, if not the premier racing facility in the United States," Wallace said. "I've driven many racetracks as a veteran driver and past NASCAR Champion, I've seen the good and the bad, and Iowa Speedway will be 'the best of the best."

"We are extremely proud to showcase the Indy Racing League here at our fabulous facility designed by one of our partners, Rusty Wallace," said Iowa Speedway President Stan Clement. "The Indy Racing League will allow spectators and race fans an opportunity to attend a first-class display of talent and speed. So, with great enthusiasm, we welcome these world-class drivers and the Indy Racing League to Newton and the state of Iowa".

"It's a lot bigger than we thought it was going to be," said Dixon. "We thought it was similar to Richmond. It's easy flat. It will be fast and provide good passing because it's so wide, and the transitions are smooth. It's a nice track."

"It was interesting going out there first," said Cunningham. "It's the first time I've ever been the first person on a track. I didn't know what to expect. In karting, the asphalt is greasy, so that's what I was expecting. But the surface was good straight away. They warned us about the transitions, so they were not much of an issue. It's fast. The corners come at you quick. We're going around in 20 seconds, but I'm sure it will be quicker I think it will be a good track.

"It's nice to be on a smaller track where the driver input has a lot to do with the result. I think it's going to be a great race for the Indy Pro Series."