Two races into the Verizon IndyCar Series season, the "balance of power in the beleaguered series seems to have shifted," according to Jenna Fryer of the AP. Honda is "showing renewed strength after several years of Chevrolet dominance." Thanks in part to a "more competitive circuit, IndyCar is heading in the proper direction." Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay said, "Things are looking positive and there's traction." Hunter-Reay, cited "strong crowds" at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus the "planning for a new car" in '18. IndyCar "celebrated its kickoff by announcing that all four of its major partners -- Chevrolet, Honda, Firestone and Dallara -- signed multiyear contract extensions." Driver Helio Castroneves "feels the momentum in the series was built" around last year's 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Castroneves: "Finally we are getting in our groove. Last year's Indy 500 probably caught a lot of attention from a younger group, and I think there's more room for us to grow. We still need to improve our TV numbers, the social media side, the marketing part, but we are making gains." Meanwhile, Fryer noted there have been "rumors of a 'showstopping' driver parachuting" into next month's Indianapolis 500, but "nothing has stuck." The marketing of the new Indy car, a "sexier version of the current Dallara, must be the focal point in creating hype for the series." Team Owner Chip Ganassi said, "I like the job that management is doing" (AP, 4/10).
DRIVERS, START YOUR ENGINES: Indianapolis 500 race organizers said that they have "already exceeded their ticket sales goal and are making slight tweaks to the event" with fewer than two months to go before the 101st running of the race. IMS President Doug Boles said that this year’s attendance will "easily top" '15's. He added that he will be "disappointed if the figure doesn’t crack 300,000." SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Adam Stern notes that would represent at least a 36% uptick from '15, though it would be an approximately 15% drop from the attendance last year. While not ruling it out, Boles "does not expect to fully sell out the 250,000 seats that comprise IMS’s sprawling grandstands" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/10 issue).
