The IndyCar Series has gained vital momentum this offseason and that might develop even additional because it pushes in direction of a presence in Denver, Colorado, and Mexico.
The opportunity of including a race in both or each markets comes off the tails of the open-wheel collection’ announcement last October of the Grand Prix of Arlington for 2026. A race on the Streets of Denver was a longstanding rumor that quieted down after the Arlington information, whereas an overdue return to Mexico has continued to construct over the past 4 months.
Whereas nothing is confirmed for both race on the time of penning this, Mark Miles, the president and CEO of Penske Leisure, shared in an unique interview with Motorsport.com, that issues are a piece in progress.
“A brand new race is not added till every thing’s executed proper, contracted for and all of that follows on us being satisfied that we’d have the precise partnerships or promoters in the precise markets,” Miles mentioned. “It is too early to declare victory on any of the probabilities that you just talked about, however it’s true that each of these markets are a piece in progress. Look, if we land one of many two for as early as 2026 that’d be terrific, together with Arlington.”
North America’s premier open-wheel championship hasn’t had a presence in Mexico since 2007, which got here through the Champ Automotive period on the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit. Moreover, Pikes Peak Worldwide Raceway, which is 85 miles south of Denver, beforehand hosted IndyCar — underneath the Indy Racing League (IRL) banner — from 1997-2005.
A part of the spine surrounding the thrill with the Grand Prix of Arlington is within the companions which might be concerned, particularly one of the recognizable manufacturers in all of sports activities within the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. REV Leisure, the official occasions associate of MLB’s Texas Rangers, can be concerned within the partnership group.
And having the IndyCar Sequence hyperlink up with companions of that magnitude might have a continued impression on rising different occasions, together with Denver and Mexico. It additionally doesn’t harm that every one 17 rounds for this upcoming season shall be obtainable on broadcast tv, courtesy of latest media rights associate FOX Sports activities.
“I believe all of it builds on itself,” Miles mentioned. “Who is aware of what the Arlington announcement might deliver us as well as, subsequently. I believe the Fox information was in all probability one of many largest issues, however it’s all a part of an introduced technique the place we determined we’re ready to advertise extra races ourselves — we wish to be opportunistic about that, however the place it is necessary and permits us to get right into a market prior to it’d occur in any other case.
“We have mentioned we look ahead to alternatives to associate with actually sturdy companions just like the Cowboys and the Rangers. We have mentioned we wish to be in some extra scorching, new city markets. So, you lay all that out, it permits us to be fairly intentional about the place we glance and I believe articulating it has prompted some to name us. So, I hope that the progress will proceed to speed up.”
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