The Izod IndyCar Series is “looking at racing on the streets” of Providence, R.I., next August, according to Tony DiZinno of RACER.com. The proposed race would be held August 9-11 and would "take place on a 2.1-mile temporary street circuit that runs by Brown University, past the state capitol and over" a canal. The course would have a “reasonable amount of elevation” and be “right in the heart of the city.” NZR Consulting President Tony Cotman said that the project “has been in the works for the past six months.” Cotman: “Initially, a potential site was looked at in Boston but as we progressed it was apparent interest was extremely high just down the road in Providence.” He added the promoter group for the race will be called New England Grand Prix LLC. DiZinno noted that while the '13 IndyCar schedule “has not been released, the projected Providence date would fall a week after” the race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. An October return to Houston is “the only new race yet confirmed for 2013” (RACER.com, 9/10). In Indianapolis, Anthony Schoettle noted along with the Baltimore race, Providence would be IndyCar's "second foray into the Northeast, which is seen as a key market to growing IndyCar racing." Many IndyCar fans "clamor for more oval races” instead of additional road/street courses. However, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard has said that the series "has to do what makes sense financially, adding that often times street and road courses draw bigger live crowds and generate more revenue” (IBJ.com, 9/11).
