INDYCAR Looking at More Growth Opportunities

Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles (photo courtesy INDYCAR/LAT USA)

INDYCAR Chief Executive Officer Mark Miles says, while there is no major expansion planned for the Verizon IndyCar Series schedule in the short term, the organization is looking for additional venues moving forward. Thursday, Miles unveiled the 2017 IndyCar schedule, which includes a return to Gateway Motorsports Park near St. Louis.

Miles says the decision-making process to find a venue for the additional spot on the 2017 schedule was "rigorous" and took months. Gateway Motorsports Park, which is located in Madison, Illinois, was added to the 2017 schedule and will host a Verizon IndyCar Series race for the first time since 2003.

He says INDYCAR’s philosophy for growth is carefully-managed growth, which means looking for gaps in the schedule that could be filled.

"We think about all the factors, from the balance we want to try to keep in terms of the type of racing, in terms of urban versus more park-like as we have now in so many of our races (and) Midwest versus other regions of the country," said Miles. "We just look at the options on a case-by-case basis and try to make the best calls."

Miles says they are looking at opportunities for a possible international race that could take place around February and perhaps another race to fill in a gap in the traditional portion of the schedule in 2018. He says one of the most important aspects of choosing a venue for a race is making sure that spot would make the race an event that more people would want to attend every year.