IndyCar Series CEO Mark Miles "continues to look for opportunities to start the season in February at destinations outside North America," according to Marshall Pruett of RACER. At least one venue in South America is "rumored to be on IndyCar's radar, and numerous tracks in Europe, Asia and Australia have been mentioned as possibilities to host the open-wheel series." The desire to add int'l events that would be held prior to the start of the regular IndyCar season "would add exposure for the series, but more importantly, Miles views the trips abroad as a way to help the cash-strapped teams in the paddock." Miles said, "We're talking about February, we're talking about a limited number -- I think maybe two, someday -- and we believe that that market will allow us to pay the teams more." He "envisions an increase in IndyCar's Leader Circle payouts to each full-time entry would be made," and with the costs of travel covered "to some degree," int'l races "could result in a positive cash flow for team owners" (RACER, 2/27).
