MADISON, Ill – For the third straight year, the NTT IndyCar Series will invade the St. Louis area as Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 (8 p.m. ET/NBCSN/INDYCAR Radio Network) at the recently rebranded World Wide Technology Raceway will once again welcome a big crowd.

All signs are pointing to at least 30-35k showing up for the race as it’s proven time and time again now that the city and race track are doing it right.

The energy levels for the last two years of this race here have been incredible. It makes you wonder why it took 14 years to get the race going again.

But, Chris Blair, John Bisci and their team have led a wonderful charge for a race that’s here to stay.

On Thursday night, the St. Louis Cardinals hosted IndyCar night as current IndyCar points leader Josef Newgarden threw out the first pitch.

“Why don’t they let you warm up?” Newgarden joked after practice on Friday at Gateway. “Kind of cruel actually. Hey, you get to do this really cool thing, but you got to wing it right off the start.

“No, it was great. We had a really fun time. Actually got to stay for most of the game. It was an interesting game. There was a guy that ran on the field, there was a fight, a couple home runs. It was like a really good ballgame, good night for baseball.

“Yeah, we had fun. A great cross promotion. I thought there were a lot of fans there that came up and said they were excited about the race here. It’s great to see sports cross over. You got guys that love baseball and motorsports. Hopefully get a lot of people out tomorrow night.

“Everyone here at Worldwide Technology Raceway has done a good job of promoting this event. I think everyone looks forward it. Really has a good reputation, which is what you want when you come to racetracks, feel positive about what the event is, the track itself, being excited to drive it.

“It’s been a great addition to our calendar the last few years.”

Then, driver Graham Rahal had St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko as a guest of his this weekend. Parayko, was a big part of the Blues winning the Stanley Cup championship this past season.

Speaking of the Stanley Cup, the track worked out a deal with the Blues to have it on hand here on Saturday as fans can take a first hand look at the prestigious trophy before tomorrow night’s 248 Lap race.

Yeah, it’s been good,” Parayko said on Friday. “I mean, ever since St. Louis got a race, it’s been special. Obviously I’m from Edmonton, used to be an IndyCar race there, I used to go every year. My dad would take us every year. Cool and special when St. Louis got a race.

“Kind of Graham and I have built a little bit of a relationship where whenever I get to go to the race, when you go to any sport, you kind of know a little bit, it just makes it that much better. It’s more enjoyable, I guess.

“I think it’s cool when sports collide, be together. It’s extra special for Alex and I to bring it for Graham. Kind of got to know each other well. Obviously him being a hockey fan. Like he said, he’s seen it before. I think it’s kind of special we won it this year, get to share it with him that way. Obviously hopefully the Blue Jackets do it one year, but for now I guess we’ll show it to him first.”

On Saturday, the track will have action all day so you can come early and see more than just the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.

It starts with K&N Qualifying at 12:45 p.m. locally and ends with the green flag dropping for the Indy Car race at 7:45 p.m. CT.

Saturday Schedule

12:30 p.m. – K&N Quals

1:45 p.m. – Indy Pro 2000 Race (55 Laps or 40 Minutes)

2:40-3:10 p.m. – Vintage Indy Car Laps

3:25 p.m. – Indy Lights Race (75 Laps or 55 Minutes)

4:35 p.m. – K&N Race (120 Laps/150 Miles)

6:30 p.m. – IndyCars Pushed Out

6:45 p.m. – IndyCar’s Gridded

7:05 p.m. – Driver Intros

7:40 p.m. – Command

7:45 p.m. – Green Flag