Brazil, Alabama races added to 2010 IRL schedule

SPARTA, Ky. — The IndyCar series is heading back to South America.

The open-wheel series will begin the 2010 season in Brazil on March 14, though it has yet to pick a site. IndyCar commercial division president Terry Angstadt said it’s down to three finalists and hopes to finalize the details in the coming weeks.

Brazil isn’t the only new stop on the 17-race slate. The series will make its debut at Barber Sports Motorpark in Alabama on April 11.

Angstadt called the prospect of putting together a balanced schedule in a tough economic climate “a challenge,” but said it was important for the series to try and explore new markets.

“Racing in Brazil we think will bring an incredible new aspect to the Indycar series,” he said. “There’s a long history of open wheel racing in Brazil, and it can be found in the talent and great personality our drivers.”

Several of the series’ stars, including three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves and 2004 points champion Tony Kanaan, are from Brazil. The country last hosted an Indy race in 2000 in Rio de Janeiro, and Castroneves met with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil earlier this month to lobby for the series’ return.

The dates in Brazil and Alabama give the series nine road races, the first time in IndyCar history that road races will outnumber races held on ovals.

“We have strived historically to find a balance and we’re about as close as we can get right now,” Angstadt said.

While the drivers lamented the loss of races in Richmond and Milwaukee — both ovals — they were confident the schedule provides a daunting test.

“Before the split in ‘96, IndyCar racing was all about being good over short courses, road courses and superspeedways,” said Dario Franchitti, who drives for Target Ganassi Chip Racing. “That’s what we have back with this schedule.”

Angstadt said he worked with Milwaukee officials until hours before the schedule was completed in an effort to keep the date and hopes the series can return to the track in the future.

“We’re continuing an open dialogue with them,” Angstadt said.

The track’s money problems certainly didn’t help. Milwaukee track promoters have paid prize money to teams but have not fully paid sanctioning fees owed to both NASCAR and the IRL. Angstadt said on Friday the situation between the track and IndyCar remains unresolved.

A return to Richmond seems less likely.

Angstadt had been negotiating with International Speedway Corp. — which owns Richmond — to bring the series back next year, but the deal was never completed. Angstadt denied speculation that the series’ sanctioning fee was a stumbling block.

“We understood the business model just wasn’t working for ISC in that regard so we’ll not be racing there and we thought that was a pretty good venue,” Angstadt said.

Angstadt remains open to expanding the schedule in the future, an idea the drivers hope will come to fruition.

“The best time for us is when we’re in the car,” said series points leader Scott Dixon. “I’d like to see 22 or 25 races. Champ Car when I left, we were 22 or 24 races at that point and it was pretty good.”