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HAMPTON, Ga. — Tim Cindric hopes he can help make Memorial Day weekend more special for race fans by pushing for a change that would allow drivers to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.

Cindric, the president of Penske Racing, asked Indy Car Racing team owners in a recent meeting, to persuade Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to push back the start time of the 500 to 11 a.m. so drivers could race there and in the Coca-Cola 600 later that day.

"I think that the Indy 500 needs to be the best drivers in the world," Cindric said. "(They) need to have access to that race. There are so many guys that are NASCAR drivers now that tell me that someday they want to drive in the Indy 500. Right now, there's no path for them to do that without them giving up their day job."

The decision to move a start time involves several factors. One key element is TV. The ratings for this year's Indianapolis 500 were the lowest in the last five years, according to ESPN, which broadcast the race on ABC and is open to a time change.

"If there are drivers interested in racing the double that day, we would be very open to working with IRL and NASCAR to see if the scheduling is possible without compromising either the Indy 500 or Coca-Cola 600," said Julie Sobieski, ESPN vice president, programming and acquisitions in a statement.

Only three drivers have competed in both events in the same day — John Andretti, Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart. So, would there really be a lot of Cup drivers going to Indy if the starting time changed?

"I think you would see John and Robby as the two who would do it," Stewart said. "I don't think you'd see anybody else do it. My belief still is if you're going to do the 500 and do it to win it, you're going to have to go and start the season with that team and run a lot with them just to get acclimated."

Said John Andretti: "Tony is being modest, believe it or not. It would be a piece of cake for him (to return)."

Andretti said he would be interested and the fact that Cindric is attempting to revive this concept intrigues him.

"He's not somebody, in my opinion, hasn't thought something out before he talks," Andretti said.

COMMITMENT TO SPORT: Brent Dewar, recently promoted to vice president of Chevrolet's global operations, reaffirmed Chevrolet's commitment to the sport as it reorganizes.

"We've been in it from the beginning, we're in it for the long haul," said Dewar, who met with series officials, drivers, owners and team officials this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway to reaffirm that pledge.

Dewar, who had been in Europe for GM for nearly the last two years, said he expected Chevy's involvement to remain with the same number of teams.

"The right thing is not to expand at this point in time until we get ourselves in a healthier foot print," he said of the company's resurgence.

DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR? Denny Hamlin recently had a Lexus stolen from his home in the Charlotte area.

Hamlin's video security system caught two people walking through an open gate to the car and pulling away moments later. No one has been caught.

"Everyone feels violated when their house is broken into," Hamlin said. "I've never had anything stolen until that point. But they'll get them."

PIT STOPS: Robby Gordon will not compete in this weekend's race at Richmond because he'll be driving in an off-road race. David Gilliland will drive Gordon's car at Richmond. ... The rescheduled Prelude to the Dream dirt car race at Tony Stewart's Eldora (Ohio) Speedway is Wednesday. The exhibition event, which features several Cup drivers can be seen on HBO Pay-Per-View for $24.95.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com