The use of bricks followed the previous and problematic use of a sticky mixture of gravel, limestone, tar, and asphaltum oil.

Following several deaths, including a driver, mechanic, and spectators, AAA threatened a boycott of the facility, so the owner agreed to use a brick surface.

[9] Six years later, in 2007, coinciding with ESPN taking over NASCAR television rights, the race swapped dates with Pocono Raceway.

[11] Following the purchase of IMS in 2019, by Roger Penske, the track and NASCAR agreed to move the race back to August using a road course format beginning in 2021, featuring an IndyCar-NASCAR doubleheader.

As a result of the pandemic-affected 2020 season, where the IndyCar road course race that was originally scheduled for the Month of May was moved to the NASCAR weekend where the Xfinity Series race was moved to the road course, the Speedway agreed to move the second road course meeting, which had been at the 8 Hours Intercontinental GT Challenge race meeting as a result of pandemic changes, to the NASCAR weekend.

[17][18] Although popular, attendance began dwindling for several factors including a tire controversy at the 2008 race, poor sightlines compared to other NASCAR tracks, the overall lack of competition, and uncomfortably hot summer temperatures in July/August.

[11] While NASCAR does not release attendance data, IMS reported that they had pre-sold 50,000–60,000 tickets with walk-up sales expected, for the inaugural event.

During the restart on Lap 77, Martin Truex Jr. wrecked after running over the Turn 6 curb and shrapnel from it was kicked off the racing surface.

A 19:14 red flag led to the removal of the curb and an additional extended caution period when another car was leaking oil.

On the Lap 89 restart, another multiple-car pileup occurred in the same Turn 6 chicane, without a curb and a 4:08 red flag was forced.

[25] The curbing issues would affect the next major professional meeting at the Speedway, the 8 Hours Intercontinental GT Challenge race in October.

The first natural caution of the race came on lap 62 when Kyle Larson's brakes failed going into turn one and he smashed into Ty Dillon.

The caution came back out on lap 81 due to Austin Dillon getting stuck in the gravel, which forced overtime.

Under the terms of a new $2.7 billion television deal from 2015 to 2024, the race is part of the NASCAR on NBC package.