Indy Racing Announces 12-Race Schedule

FOUNTAIN, Colo. -- Adding six new venues, the Indy Racing Northern Light Series has announced a 12-race schedule for the 2001 season.

The schedule includes two races at Texas Motor Speedway and represents a 33 percent increase over the nine races over the current schedule.

IRNLS' 2001 season will be shortened to seven months, from March to September, compared to the current 10-month schedule. Three of the 2001 races will be held on Saturday night, and all races will be televised live by ABC or ESPN as part of the league's five-year agreement with the networks.

"We feel these tracks are interested in us because we're growing and because we have stability," said Tony George, IRL founder.

George said negotiations were ongoing with as many as five other venues, including Germany, with some of those sites possibly to be added for 2001.

"While it could be one to three more races, we are not going to be more than 15," said Bob Reif, the IRNLS' chief marketing officer. "I'm sure we will have offers for up to 17 races."

George said officials should know by the end of July whether they can add races for next season.

He confirmed that the IRNLS was talking with track officials in Germany, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Orlando.

The IRNLS is racing in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Orlando this season, but under the announced 12-race schedule it won't be returning to those sites.

The IRNLS will be returning to Pikes Peak International Raceway here -- where the league held a race Sunday -- as well as to Indianapolis; Phoenix; Sparta, Ky., and for the two dates in Fort Worth, Texas.

The six new markets are in Miami; Richmond, Va.; Nashville, Tenn.; St. Louis; Chicago, and Kansas City, Kan.

The Richmond date -- the first in series history on a track shorter than one mile -- is subject to mutually satisfactory testing scheduled for later this month.