Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said that he wants IndyCar officials “to make a decision within two weeks about returning to TMS for the 2013 season,” according to Terry Blount of ESPN.com. Gossage said, "I'm not going to let this linger like we did last year. My desire is for IndyCar to stay, but we have a plan in place either way." IndyCar has raced at TMS “every year since the speedway opened in 1997.” Most of the TMS races “have produced the highest attendance in American open-wheel racing outside of the Indy 500.” The Firestone 550 on Saturday night boasted a crowd “of 69,000.” Blount noted some drivers “had concerns about racing in Texas this time, the first event on a high-banked, 1.5-mile oval since Dan Wheldon was killed in a crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last October.” But the drivers “were praising TMS after Saturday's event.” However, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said that the sport “is interested in running the new Austin road course in 2013,” and the series has already “has added a race in Houston (around Reliant Stadium) next year.” Gossage said that he has “two options if IndyCar doesn't return to TMS.” One includes running “the NASCAR Nationwide Series with the Camping World Truck Series in the June weekend” (ESPN.com, 6/11). Speed’s Robin Miller said IndyCar's return to TMS next season is “not in trouble, especially after (Saturday) night.” Miller: “There was a lot more optimism after that race was over (Saturday) night between teams and drivers.” Miller noted Ed Carpenter Racing Team Manager Derrick Walker said, “'We need this place. This is part of IndyCar’s tradition right now … and it’s a good show so we need to keep it’” (“Wind Tunnel With Dave Despain,” Speed, 6/10).
OVERSEAS EXPLORING: Bernard said that a “decision has to be made ‘within three or four days’ on whether to make the trip” to Qingdao, China, for a race on Aug. 19. He said that there were “political forces working against the event.” Bernard added that he “has a backup plan in case China falls through.” He said that it is “likely the race would be held after the announced season-ender at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., although that wouldn't go over well with track officials there.” The INDIANAPOLIS STAR's Curt Cavin noted Fontana officials “have been promoting the race as the finale” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/10).
