The NTT IndyCar Series as it stands currently "won't be racing in Japan any time soon," according to Jim Ayello of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. IndyCar CEO Mark Miles said that timing is the series' "biggest issue with a return to Japan." He said, "All of our Japanese partners would like to see us there, whether that's NTT or Bridgestone, Honda, obviously, and more. It's tough because we think the racing that's outside of North America, for the most part, we think it should be before the beginning of the championship. And that means January, February, probably February. It's difficult in Japan to find a time when the climate works." Ayello noted the reason Miles "likely wouldn't consider another spot on the calendar" for a potential Japan race is because of his "long-stated preference to keep the series in North America once it starts racing there." Indy cars "haven't raced in Japan" since '11, when the race was run on a road course because the Twin-Ring Motegi oval "suffered damage in an earthquake." However, Miles "remains confident that IndyCar will add one if not two international races to its schedule in the near future" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/7).
ONE FOR THE OLD GUYS: RACER.com's Robin Miller noted two weeks after 18-year-old Colton Herta became the youngest winner in IndyCar history with his victory at the inaugural IndyCar Classic, the "senior denizens" of the series "flexed their muscles and considerable savvy to dominate" the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama this weekend. Takuma Sato, 42, held off 37-year-old Scott Dixon and 40-year-old Sebastian Bourdais for the fourth win of his IndyCar career. Miller: "The geezers showed they've still got plenty of good miles left" (RACER.com, 4/7).
