Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles thinks that F1 driver Fernando Alonso driving in this year's Indianapolis 500 could produce a host of positive results for the event. Miles, who oversees Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Verizon IndyCar Series, said the move by F1 team McLaren to have Alonso race for Honda-backed Andretti Autosport in the 500 will “have an effect on all kinds of levels." Miles also noted it was "busy" yesterday at IMS’s ticket-sales office after the announcement, which trended worldwide on Twitter and was splashed on the back pages of Spanish newspapers. Miles: "One (effect) is ticket sales: I think there will be more Formula 1 fans in the States who want to come to the 500; I think there will be more international journalists here to cover it; I think there will be opportunities even for some streaming deals outside of our normal linear arrangements around the world to provide extra access to it; I’m sitting here right now thinking about whether we want to go over there and do a PR tour in some European countries." Miles added that this move could re-start a trend of F1 drivers participating in the race. Miles: "I heard from somebody (in Europe) that Alonso had heard from another F1 star who said, ‘Hey, really cool -- big balls; maybe I’ll do it.' So it causes drivers -- whether it's other guys in NASCAR or in Formula One -- to think (about it) and that can only be good."
LAP OF LUXURY? There have been rumblings in the paddock recently about IndyCar's continued efforts to land a third official engine manufacturer (OEM). While talk about Toyota has continued to build, Miles yesterday said that it is the "same status" with Toyota as last year, when the brand indicated that it had no current intent to join the series. Miles did confirm that IndyCar had a “great deal of conversation” with Lamborghini about joining as a third OEM. But he said, "At this point, I do not expect them to come forward.” He added, “It was a great process and deep learning for both of us, and maybe some day in the future, but I don’t look for that to happen maybe in the next year or so. ... We got close with Lamborghini and we will keep talking with anyone who will talk with us and sooner or later we’ll find our third OEM.”
