The NTT IndyCar Series is continuing to look at 'one or two' international races joining the schedule in the near future should the right deal come together according to CEO Mark Miles.
Any additional events outside North America would probably have to fit into a time window sometime in February, as the series is keen to retain venues and dates within the current schedule, whilst not extending the season beyond September due to perceived clashes with major US sporting events.
Speaking at Barber Motorsports Park, Miles also stated he wanted any agreed events to become a “tradition” and remain economically viable for both the promoter and IndyCar in the long term.
“We think we're fundamentally a North American series,” asserted Miles. “But that there are a lot of choices for us to race in February, and so I think that's an attractive time when it might be possible to race outside North America. So it's going to be one or two, and we have been actively looking for some time.
“We're trying to understand how to create a great value proposition and how to be in a place that won't be a one-off. Everything has to line up. Their economy has to be good. They have to put all the economics and sponsorship and the like together.”
Several potential venues have been mooted, with Surfer’s Paradise on Australia’s Gold Coast thought to be the most likely, and preliminary talks with an Argentinean venue known to have taken place too.
The prospect of a Japanese race also seems to make sense given the series title sponsor NTT, and Honda as an engine supplier, but Miles was quick to point out the difficulties of a race in Japan in February.
“I think philosophically all of our Japanese partners would like to see us there, whether that's NTT or (Firestone parent company) Bridgestone, Honda, obviously, and more," he added.
"Difficult in Japan to find a time when the climate works."
“We'll keep thinking about that, and maybe there's some way to do some kind of an event that isn't necessarily a championship event that's every year a part of the series.”
