Current chief financial officer Jeffrey Belskus will be the new CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp., and current chief legal counsel Curtis Brighton is the new president and CEO of Hulman & Co. The changes take effect today. Full press release below.

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT CHANGES ANNOUNCED AT HULMAN & COMPANY, INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

The Board of Directors of Hulman & Company and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced June 30 that a new management team comprised of veteran IMS executives W. Curtis Brighton and Jeffrey G. Belskus will head the Hulman-George companies effective July 1.

Brighton, currently executive vice president and chief legal counsel, will become president and CEO of Hulman & Company. Belskus, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer for the companies, will become president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation.

They will replace Tony George, who will no longer serve as president and chief executive officer of the Hulman-George companies but will remain a board member of the Hulman-George companies.

"Our board had asked Tony to structure our executive staff to create efficiencies in our business structure and to concentrate his leadership efforts in the Indy Racing League," said Mari Hulman George, IMS chairman of the board. "He has decided that with the recent unification of open-wheel racing and the experienced management team IMS has cultivated over the years, now would be the time for him to concentrate on his team ownership of Vision Racing with his family and other personal business interests he and his family share.

"Tony will remain on the Board of Directors of all of our companies, and he will continue to work with the entire board to advance the interests of all of companies.

"Our family and the entire racing community are grateful to Tony for the leadership and direction he has provided since 1990. We are pleased that he will continue to be an important part of the Indy Racing League as a team owner and as a member of our Board of Directors, and we wish him every success."

Mrs. George underscored the confidence in the leadership of Belskus and Brighton, who both were originally hired by Tony George.

"Jeff and Curt have both been with the company for many years in positions of top leadership," Mrs. George said. "Tony, as well as the entire Board of Directors, has the utmost confidence in their capabilities.

"Both of these men have years of experience and leadership within our companies. In addition, each of our companies has effective presidential leadership, and that will remain in place."

Joie Chitwood is president and chief operating officer (COO) of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC. Terry Angstadt is president of the commercial division of the Indy Racing League. Brian Barnhart is president of the competition division of the Indy Racing League. Charlie Morgan is president and COO of IMS Productions. Gary Morris is president and COO of Clabber Girl.

"These changes underscore our family's commitment going forward to all of our companies, especially our commitment to the growth of the Indy Racing League and the sport of open-wheel racing," Mrs. George said. "We believe the Hulman-George family's long stewardship of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, beginning in 1945, and our significant investment in the Speedway and in the IRL demonstrates that we have full confidence in all of our companies and that we intend to grow them in the future."

Jeffrey G. Belskus—President and CEO, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation

In his role with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Jeff Belskus has had primary leadership responsibility for the financial operation of Hulman & Company in Terre Haute and its subsidiaries, including IMS and the Indy Racing League.

Terre Haute native Belskus joined the company in 1987 and was elevated to treasurer in 1989. Already functioning as the company's chief financial officer, he was promoted to vice president in 1991 and named the company's executive vice president in January 1994.

Belskus graduated with honors in 1981 from Indiana State University, where he received his bachelor's degree in accounting, and earned his CPA designation in the state of Indiana in 1985.

His professional affiliations include the treasurer of the Rose-Hulman's Board of Trustees, American Institute of CPAs and the Indiana CPA Society, and the Indianapolis chapter of the Financial Executives International. Additionally, he serves on the Indiana State University Foundation board, where he is a member of the audit committee. He also serves on the board of directors of the Morris Plan Company of Terre Haute and the Indiana board of The Nature Conservancy.

Belskus and his wife, Debbie, reside in Zionsville, Ind.

W. Curtis Brighton—President and CEO, Hulman & Company

Curt Brighton joined Hulman & Company in January 1994 as vice president and general counsel. Brighton was promoted in October 2002 to executive vice president and general counsel of Hulman & Company, and serves in a similar capacity for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Clabber Girl Corporation and Indy Racing League, the principal operating businesses in the Hulman family of companies.

Prior to joining Hulman & Company, Brighton practiced law in Terre Haute, Ind. In addition to his duties at Hulman & Company, Brighton is a board member of several business and civic organizations, including First Financial Corporation, First Financial Bank, Indiana State University Foundation, Princeton Mining Company, Templeton Coal Company, Union Hospital and United States Auto Club. His professional affiliations include the Indiana State Bar Association and the Iowa State Bar Association.

Brighton's responsibilities have included coordinating the legal, risk management, human resource, real estate and philanthropic activities for all Hulman-affiliated businesses. He is a 1976 graduate of Indiana State University and a 1981 graduate of Drake University Law School.

Brighton and his wife, Linda, reside in Terre Haute.

(Hat tip to Jeffrey!)

10. The National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
Nothing says America like the Corvette, and no place better preserves the spirit and history of the classic American sports car than the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky, near the production site of the Corvette. Get a look at historic Corvette models, learn about the production history and get your own Corvette specially detailed (if you have one). It's like Mecca, but less crowded. [Corvette Museum]

9. Auburn - Cord - Duesenberg Museum (Auburn, Indiana)
Believe it or not, there was once an automotive operation in the U.S that wasn't based in Detroit. The Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana preserves the unique story of these three companies, all important in their day. The museum also remembers the seven other brands of cars produced in Auburn. The Gallery of Classics shows off cars from the "classics era" that competed to be the cream of the cream. [ACD Museum]

8. Jay Leno's Garage (Secret Location, California)
When Jay Leno does something interesting or noble with cars, like rescuing a Duesenberg, the resulting cars end up in the Big Dog Garage, which houses cars powered by turbines, steam and the engine out of a Patton tank. Though not exactly on the map, we totally think it would be worth it to just show up and beg to be let inside (you could also break a window, but then you might damage a car). We hear the Popular Mechanics boys know where it is, go ask them. [Jay Leno's Garage]

7. The Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village (Dearborn, Michigan)
What would an American automotive pilgrimage be without a trip to the greater Detroit area and The Henry Ford Museum? Though not everything is car-themed, there's an amazing collection of automotive history, including Rosa Parks' bus, the Lincoln in which JFK was assassinated and the relatively untragic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. If you leave "The" out of the museum's name, they cart you off to the turn-of-the-century jail outside in Greenfield Village, a place of make-believe designed to capture the spirit of the American Industrial Revolution. Also, they have really good pies. [The Henry Ford]

6. Indianapolis Motor Speedway & Museum (Indianapolis, Indiana)
The self-proclaimed "Racing Capital Of The World," the Brickyard has a lot to offer in the way of a journey for racing fans. In addition to the famous track, the accompanying museum includes historic footage, a large trophy collection and timing equipment from the older days. Of course, there's always a collection of dozens of rare vehicles, including the Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250LM and the more American 57' SSI Corvette. If you know who to tip, you may even get a chance to head down into the basement because that's where the real magic is stored. Non-disclosure agreements prevent us from saying anything more. [Indy Motor Speedway]

5. The ArtCar Museum (Houston, Texas)
For those more inclined toward customization and personalization, the ArtCar Museum (a.k.a. The Garage Mahal) contains a large collection of outstanding testaments to our rolling culture. There's also a rotation of cars, sculptures, photos and paintings that chronicle the evolving art of cars. [ArtCar Museum]

4. Petersen Automotive Museum (Los Angeles, California)
Covering over 300,000 square feet and four floors, the history of the automobile is lovingly detailed at the relatively new Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Current exhibits include "The Art of Cars," "Nascar: 60 Years" and the totally meta "From Autocamp to Airstreams: The Early Road to Vactionland." It's like the Library of Alexandria of cars... but without the tragic destruction. Petersen Museum

3. Historic Route 66 (Chicago to Los Angeles)
Though no longer marked as an actual highway, there are plenty of resources to help you make the trip from the Second City to the City of Angels along Route 66, the Mother Road. Whether you do the entire journey or a small historic portion of the road, like Holbrook to Topock, there's plenty to see along the way. If you make it through the Texas panhandle, we recommend the leaning water tower in Groom, Texas, which was built to attract tourists making the journey. [Historic 66]

2. Carhenge (Alliance, Nebraska)
A detailed recreation of Stonehenge made from 38 spray-painted classic American automobiles, Carhenge is an undeniably weird and awesome destination for those with a car-spiritual nature. The stewards of the site have worked with artists to place other car-based sculptures, such as a take on Vivald's "Four Seasons" made with Fords. [Carhenge]

1. Deals Gap (Blount County, Tennessee)
Considered by many to be the best driving in the country, the portion of U.S. Highway 129 in rural Tennessee is a must-visit for those with superior automobiles (or not) and a thirst for spirited transportation. The Tail of the Dragon, in particular, is said to contain more than 300 curves in less than 11 miles. Lacking any serious development, it's mostly uninterrupted driving... with the exception of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Be safe, be quick but be wary of the flashing lights. [This is what it looks like In An Audi TT]

These are the 10 we could come up with, but feel free to add American automotive pilgrimages of your own.

In the denouement to yesterday's abbreviated Indy 500, it was a rain-drenched, barefoot Ashley Judd providing the glamor an eighth-place Danica Patrick, an ousted Milka Duno and a lurking Gene Simmons could not. Patrick lost a late-race game of pitstop musical chairs, nullifying an earlier reach to second place; Duno hit a wall, and Simmons could have used some makeup. Judd's husband Dario Franchitti took the checkered flag in the 91st running of Indy, taking advantage of a few late-race shakeups that nullified prior heroics by Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish Jr. and podium finishers Scott Dixon in second and Hélio Castroneves in third. Intermittent rain over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway delayed the race for nearly three hours after 113 laps, and officials called it for good when a downpour started after 166 laps. In the end, an early pit gave the advantage to Franchitti, who wound up on top with plenty of fuel when the early flag waved. Still, it was the damp Ms. Judd who stole the Indy spotlight, talking to ESPN about understeer, ballast and sweet spots, then heading off to the pits barefoot. – Mike Spinelli

Dario Franchitti Re-Writes The Record Book in A Wet & Wild Indianapolis 500 [Auto Racing Daily]

Related:
Indy 500 Garage Wrap Up [internal]