IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard is “taking a serious look” at adding a Saturday night/Sunday afternoon doubleheader at Iowa Speedway next season, according to Robin Miller of SPEEDTV.com. The series held the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at the track Saturday night, and Bernard said of the race, “It’s a sellout, the track does a helluva job promoting us in the Heartland and their fans really get it so why not go from 40,000 to 80,000?” Bernard added he spoke with Iowa Speedway President & CFO Jerry Jauron, who “loved the idea." Bernard: "Now I want to talk to our owners, partners and networks about it.” Miller reported "Bernard is considering multiple doubleheaders at tracks that want IndyCar like Iowa.” Bernard: “This could be the way we maintain our balance of oval and road races. I think it’s certainly worth taking a look at -- especially Iowa” (SPEEDTV.com, 6/27). Meanwhile, Jauron said that a “three-year extension is in the works” for IndyCar to remain at Iowa. Jauron: “We hope to announce shortly that IndyCar will be committed to racing here through 2014.” All previous deals between the speedway and IndyCar have been two-year commitments (DESMOINESREGISTER.com, 6/25).
MILES TO GO: In Milwaukee, Dave Kallmann reported AB Promotions CEO Chris McGrath, whose company organized the Izod IndyCar Series race at the Milwaukee Mile on June 19, “wouldn’t discuss details of the event but did characterize losses as ‘significant.’” AB leased the track from the Wisconsin State Fair Park and “did not meet May deadlines for picking up its options for 2012 with the fair or IndyCar.” AB has “since signed a letter of intent, stating it would like to return for 2012,” but Kallmann noted that was apparently "little more than a procedural move; the most important factor is IndyCar also wanting to be back.” IndyCar has expressed a “strong desire” to return to Chicagoland Speedway, and has also shown “some interest” in a race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc. (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/25).
