IndyCar Releases The 2010 Schedule – Some Happy, Others Not

Sparta, KY (July 31, 2009) – The 2010 IndyCar Series schedule was released before qualifying for the IndyCars at the Kentucky Motor Speedway, and there were some behind the scenes fireworks. The Press Conference was hosted by IndyCar Series commercial series president – Terry Angstadt, Kentucky Motor Speedway president – Mark Simendinger and Gene Hallman of Zoom Motorsports, promoter at Barber Motorsports Park.

The open wheel cars return to Brazil after CART/Champ Car visited the South American country ten years ago (2000) and the Barber Motorsports Park makes its first appearance on the IndyCar Series schedule.

The 2010 schedule features eight oval races, four permanent road courses and five temporary circuits with the Brazilian circuit yet to be determined. Angstadt said that the League is looking at three venues and has “MOU’s” (Memorandum of Understanding) signed with two, but felt confident with the involvement of the Brazilian government that a date was reserved for them. Angstadt added, “We will be determining that over the next probably week to ten days. We didn’t want to force that process to match our schedule announcement.”

Regarding the dropping of Richmond off the calendar, Angstadt said, “We understand that the business model just wasn’t working for ISC in that regard. We thought that it was a pretty good venue.” Regarding the turmoil at The Milwaukee Mile, the State Fair Board approved a new promotional group last night and the IRL had talks with that group last night and again this morning. However an agreement could be be made ratified today and The Mile was left off the 2010 schedule. Angstadt did mention that Sarah Davis director, business and consumer strategy at the Indy Racing League will continue talks with the new promotional group at The Milwaukee Mile for talks on 2011. Angstadt said, “We are continuing dialog with them. We hope to be able to find something in the near future for Milwaukee.”

However some fireworks were fired by Jerry Gappens who is the executive vice president and general manager at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. NHMS was left off the 2010 schedule which Gappens responded in a press release, “For the second year in a row, I’m extremely disappointed for our fans who continue to hope for the return of IndyCar racing to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Gappens wrote, “Our discussions with series officials explored an early August date, but according to them, that turned out to be logistically challenging with the schedule commitments they had in place. Then, I offered to run on the traditional Milwaukee date if they decided not to return to that venue. The feedback I received on that option was that they were concerned about our ability to sell tickets three weeks out from our NASCAR LENOX Industrial Tools 301 weekend. That, in my opinion, was an insult to our team here at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Speedway Motorsports. I assured them that we have the ability to promote and have a pretty good track record of selling tickets here. In fact, I told them that we would promote June as the “Month of Speed” in New Hampshire, opening with the IndyCars, followed by the 87th Annual Loudon Classic/Laconia Bike Week, and finishing with NASCAR.”

He continued, “What troubles me, as much as being left off of next year’s schedule, is that they are exploring an option of racing in the parking lot at Gillette Stadium (home of the New England Patriots) in 2012, right here in our back yard. That would be a real slap in the face. We have a real speedway that produces great racing, located in the seventh largest media market in the country, offers 93,000 grandstand seats, and a dedicated staff that knows how to promote racing and sell tickets. For the past two years, we have made a concerted effort to bring IndyCar racing back to New England. Unfortunately, that interest has not been reciprocated.”

Highlights of the 2010 schedule include:

? The season opener will be contested March 14 on a series-designed circuit in Brazil. The league will announce the venue in the host city at a later date.
? The temporary street course in St. Petersburg, Fla., on March 28 will be the U.S. Opener for the second year in a row.
? The first IndyCar Series race at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama will be held April 11. The IndyCar Series conducted an Open Test at the 2.38-mile, 17-turn facility in March 2009.
? The Indianapolis 500, in the middle of Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s three-year Centennial Era, will be run May 30, preceded by three weeks of practice and qualifications. Pole Day is May 15.

? Texas Motor Speedway will be the first race following the Indianapolis 500, racing under the lights on June 12.
? The temporary circuit races in Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta, will be held on consecutive weekends July 18 and July 25, respectively. In 2009, the events were separated by two weeks.
? The 11th IndyCar Series race at Kentucky Speedway shifts from its early August date to Labor Day weekend.
? For the second year in a row, the season finale will be held on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway on Oct. 2.

“We feel the 2010 schedule strikes a fair balance between our three major disciplines – ovals, road course and temporary circuits – while taking us into key markets in the U.S. As well as abroad for our major partners,” said Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division for the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series. “We continue to build on the solid foundation of a schedule we created last year in the wake of unification with the goal of maintaining consistent and long-term dates for our track and fans.”

Race dates at Long Beach, Calif., Kansas Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Infineon Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway, Twin Ring Motegi and the season-ender at Homestead-Miami Speedway remain at the approximate same time as their 2009 dates.

The racing calendar, which will be broadcast by VERSUS and ESPN on ABC, includes two prime-time events. More breaks also are built into the schedule, with three consecutive weekends of competition the longest stint.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the diversity of the schedule as it will help us maintain a championship tradition that has been exciting for both competitors and fans,” said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and operations for the Indy Racing League. “The 2010 schedule keeps in-line with our goal to create a championship that requires drivers and teams to master a variety of tracks over the course of the season, and hopefully once again see our title battle come down to the final race of the year.”

Barber Motorsports Park, which opened in 2003 and includes the 144,000 square-foot Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, was the realization of a goal of George Barber. It is the largest philanthropic project in the history of the state of Alabama with more than $70 million private funds contributed.

“This will be the only IndyCar Series race in the Deep South, meaning it is a great tourist draw for the region. Plus, having the automotive world focus on our state enables us to highlight our growing automotive industry,” said Gene Hallman, President of Zoom Motorsports, the track’s promoter. Hallman did mention in the press conference that Barber will make safety upgrades to the track for the 2010 event. He did mention that they may look changing the track configuration to improving passing zones which may include extending or adding a straightaway.

The 2010 IndyCar Series television schedule will be announced at a later date. The Indy Racing League will be announced the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights, which is celebrating its 100th race this weekend, schedule in the immediate future.

The complete 2010 IndyCar Series schedule:

Date Location Venue

Sunday, March 14 Brazil TBA

Sunday, March 28 Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. 1.8-mile street course

Sunday, April 11 Barber Motorsports Park 2.38-mile road course

Sunday, April 18 Streets of Long Beach, Calif. 1.968-mile street course

Saturday, May 1 Kansas Speedway 1.5-mile oval

Sunday, May 30 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval

Saturday, June 12* Texas Motor Speedway 1.5-mile oval

Sunday, June 20 Iowa Speedway .875-mile oval

Sunday, July 4 Watkins Glen International 3.37-mile road course

Sunday, July 18 Streets of Toronto 1.721-mile street course

Sunday, July 25 Edmonton City Centre Airport 1.973-mile airport course

Sunday, August 8 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course

Sunday, August 22 Infineon Raceway 2.245-mile road course

Saturday, August 28* Chicagoland Speedway 1.5-mile oval

Labor Day Weekend Kentucky Speedway 1.5-mile oval

Saturday, September 18 Twin Ring Motegi 1.5-mile oval

Saturday, October 2 Homestead-Miami Speedway 1.5-mile oval

* Denotes night race Schedule Subject to Change

IndyCar Series media contributed to this report.

Steve Zautke

Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.

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