Leadership of the NTT IndyCar Series continues to work behind the scenes to see if an international race can feasibly added to the calendar for 2024.
One of the most likely options is an event at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina, which hosted a demonstration run during the last off season and has expressed considerable interest in putting on a race.
With the popular Argentinian rookie Agustin Canapino racing in IndyCar for Juncos Hollinger Racing this year, and the team itself having close ties to Argentina, the country has worked its way to the top of the list of possibilities for an international event.
Speaking to the IndyStar on Sunday, Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles said that conversations continue to move forward for the prospective event, and that it is one of the best options at the moment.
“Argentina is a developing conversation that could be promising. We get a lot of ‘incoming,’ but a lot of them don’t make sense for us, when you think about our current thought that [such an international race] ought not to be during the championship.
“And when you take, say Europe, when does it work in which western European countries, weather-wise?
“Never does six months go by that somebody or someone on behalf of somebody doesn’t reach out [from a new entity looking to host a race].”
Despite popular Mexican driver Pato O’Ward insisting that any international IndyCar round must be part of the championship, the continued word from IndyCar leadership is that any future international races would be run as exhibition events.
The only current international round on the schedule is the race held on the streets of Toronto, Canada. That race is a points-paying round of the championship, but it is also very close to the US border and feels more like a typical venue than anything in South America would be.
Countries other than Argentina have also been floated to possibly host an IndyCar race, including Mexico and Brazil. Both countries have popular drivers in the series as well, and would likely provide large crowds for any events within their borders.
At this time, however, Argentina appears to be the country that has held the most advanced talks with series leadership.
“I wouldn’t say we’re in a [far along conversation] with Brazil like we are with Argentina,” continued Miles, talking to the IndyStar. “It may be because we just haven’t really connected yet, but we have not engaged in any substantive conversations there.
“There may be yet another more promising prospect, and we may be choosing between the two for next year, or it could be just the one, or none.”
The last time IndyCar held an exhibition event that didn’t count towards the championship was 2008, when Surfers Paradise, Australia hosted the series for the final time.
