IRL officials said that they "plan to announce by
summer a considerably busier schedule" for the 2001 season,
according to Bill Koenig of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. IRL
Founder Tony George said the league could feature 12 or 13
races next year, up from nine this season. George: "We
could have 16, 17, 18 within the next few years." IRL CMO
Bob Reif, on potentially adding races: "We're not interested
in doing a one-year deal. We need multiyear deals in place.
That's how you develop a fan base." IRL and CART team Owner
Derrick Walker said that an announcement for additional
races in 2001 "before mid-year will help IRL owners pitch
sponsorships," but he also said that "it's no guarantee."
Northern Light Technology CEO Davis Seuss, whose company is
the title sponsor for the IRL, said of a "bigger" 2001
schedule, "Thirteen to 14 (races) would be a good increase.
I hope we're not done. I hope it doesn't plateau there"
(INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/12). In Las Vegas, Ron Kantowski
cited a source who said that "fewer than 2,000 tickets have
been sold" for next week's IRL race at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway (LAS VEGAS SUN, 4/11).