Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles "continues to look at possible international venues" for IndyCar, and recently he has "taken a hard look at China and Mexico with the hope of adding a race in one of those markets" in '18, according to Anthony Schoettle of the INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. IndyCar officials confirmed a SportsBusiness Journal report from earlier this month that the "best bet for an international race" in '18 is Mexico. IndyCar execs are "talking to promoters in Mexico and China." However, IndyCar officials said that a deal to race in China "likely won’t come together" until '19 at the earliest. One issue is "finding a venue and promoter willing to cough up an eight-figure sanctioning fee." For domestic races, the IndyCar Series usually commands a $1-2M sanctioning fee, but series officials "seek a higher fee for a race on foreign soil to help the teams and series cover costs involved with international travel" (IBJ.com, 6/21).
WORKING OUT THE KINKS: RACER.com's Robin Miller reported Gateway Motorsports Park outside St. Louis is "going to repave the entire 1.25-mile oval" prior to the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 on Aug. 26 in an "effort to try and ensure the best possible return" of IndyCar. Gateway President Curtis Francois "pursued IndyCar for the past three years and is promoting the 15th race in the Verizon IndyCar Series." The track surface was "breaking up" during IndyCar driver Ed Carpenter's initial test "so it was patched, and then during an open test on May 2 the abrasive surface was cutting down tires." Carpenter said, "They were having trouble identifying whether it was the surface or the patches so repaving takes care of that" (RACER.com, 6/21).
