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Leagues and Governing Bodies

IndyCar Set On 17 Races For '19, With Schedule Coming Soon

Twelve races have been confirmed for '19 schedule, including the Firestone Grand Prix of St. PetersburgGETTY IMAGES

The '19 IndyCar schedule will "remain at 17" races, and IndyCar CEO Mark Miles hopes to "announce a mostly complete calendar around Labor Day," according to Jim Ayello of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Twelve races have been confirmed for '19 -- St. Pete; Long Beach, which is looking for a new title sponsor; two races at Indianapolis; two races on Belle Isle; Road America; Iowa; Pocono; Gateway; Portland; and Laguna Seca. Barber, Toronto and Mid-Ohio "have not been confirmed but are expected to return." A multiyear agreement is "expected to be announced in the coming weeks" for Texas Motor Speedway. Miles said, "We've told everyone we want to keep Texas on the schedule, and once that's done, we'll have one slot left." Miles indicated that the series is "in talks with three tracks and that up to two could possibly be added to IndyCar's schedule." He did not mention which tracks or "which of the current unconfirmed tracks might fall off the calendar in the event that two new are added" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/18).

TEXAS TWO-STEP? While IndyCar Series is close to an extension with TMS, the deal will not include year-round territorial exclusivity rights, opening up the opportunity for the series to go to COTA. Miles recently indicated that IndyCar will no longer be offering clauses that prevent it from holding additional races within a certain designated radius of a given venue year round. IndyCar may still offer exclusivity for a limited period of time, and TMS is believed to be getting a reduction in the fee it owes IndyCar. COTA Chair Bobby Epstein was quoted recently as saying that he thought an IndyCar race there was likely years away, but sources familiar with the matter were unsure as to Epstein’s comment and insisted a race next year there is actually still in play. Another track still in play for the final ’19 slot, if it does not go to COTA, is ISC-owned Richmond Raceway. Motorsport.com reported earlier this year that a San Antonio street race was possible (Adam Stern, Staff Writer).

LOVE TRIANGLE: In Pennsylvania, Rebecca Kivak reported Pocono Raceway officials on Saturday officially announced IndyCar would be returning for a seventh straight year in '19, though a date for next year "has not been announced." Track President Ben May "hopes the track keeps its August race weekend." He said that the race "has seen 'strong growth over the past few years, but couldn't say for sure if that was due" to a date change that went into effect in '15. The '13 and '14 races "were held during the Fourth of July holiday weekend," though poor attendance "led to the race being pushed back to August" (SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE, 8/19).

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