The Road To Indy (RTI) Component of the 2019 IndyCar Series schedule announcement.
With today’s IndyCar Series 2019 schedule announcement, it’s time to start piecing together the schedules for Indy Lights, Pro (add new name here?) and USF2000.
What we know so far.
On August 29, 2017, Andersen Promotions and Green Savoree Racing Promotions signed an agreement that all three rungs of the RTI ladder will be in action at the Green Savoree promoted events on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Streets of Toronto and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
It’s not a stretch that the Freedom 100 will once again take place on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval on “Carb Day.”
At last night’s Mazda Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires banquet, Andersen Promotions CEO announced that the 2019 finale for the three series would be held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Indy Lights confirmed events
March 4 – Spring Training – Homestead-Miami Speedway (Homestead, Fla.)
March 8-10 – Streets of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
May 24 – Freedom 100 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.)
July 12 – 14 – Streets of Exhibition Place (Toronto, Ont.)
July 26 – 28 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Lexington, Ohio)
September 22 – 24 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Salinas, Calif.)
Pro (add new name here?) confirmed events
March 2 – 3 – Spring Training – Homestead-Miami Speedway (Homestead, Fla.)
March 8-10 – Streets of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
July 12 – 14 – Streets of Exhibition Place (Toronto, Ont.)
July 26 – 28 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Lexington, Ohio)
September 22 – 24 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Salinas, Calif.)
USF2000 confirmed events
March 2 – 3 – Spring Training – Homestead-Miami Speedway (Homestead, Fla.)
March 8-10 – Streets of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
July 12 – 14 – Streets of Exhibition Place (Toronto, Ont.)
July 26 – 28 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Lexington, Ohio)
September 22 – 24 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Salinas, Calif.)
Beyond the Freedom 100 and the four events that have had all three series confirmed.
Assuming double-headers at each event (not the Freedom 100), there are eight confirmed USF2000 races; eight confirmed Pro (add new name here?)races and nine confirmed Indy Lights races.
It would be surprising to see the oval component of the RTI change much for 2019, meaning you ’ll very likely see Indy Lights back at Iowa Speedway and Indy Lights /Pro (add new name here?) at Gateway Motorsports Park.
The Lucas Oil Raceway Carb Night classic makes a lot of sense for the lone USF2000 and second Pro (add new name here?) oval events.
Barber Motorsports Park, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Lucas Oil Raceway Park, Road America, Iowa Speedway, Gateway Motorsports Park and Portland International Raceway all held Road To Indy Races this year, but have not been confirmed at venues in 2019. Long Beach, Detroit, Texas Motor Speedway, and Pocono Raceway didn’t hold events this year. Circuit Of The Americas is a new venue.
This year, Indy Lights had 17 races at ten events, Pro (add new name here?) had 16 races at nine events, and USF2000 had 14 races at seven events, and it would be surprising to see those numbers change.
Numerous sources have told TSO that the demand for the RTI content at IndyCar Series events has exceeded the number of races available. That’s a good problem to have.
So, what’s the solution?
Have fewer events with all three series competing and spreading the series across more race weekends with one or two of the RTI series competing.
Long Beach and Detroit, the two double-headers with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will most likely remain free of RTI content.
That leaves newcomer Circuit Of The Americas, Barber Motorsports Park, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Road America, and Portland International Raceway to fight for five USF2000, six Pro (add new name here?) and six Indy Lights races.
Dan Andersen, CEO of Andersen Promotions and Michelle Kish, COO of Andersen Promotions do not have an easy job of putting together a schedule that makes sense for them, the teams and the promoters.