IndyCar Classic

The IndyCar Classic is an IndyCar Series race that will be held at Circuit
IndyCar Classic
of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. The inaugural running of the
race will take place on March 24, 2019.

Background
Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, was built to Formula
One (F1) specifications to host the United States Grand Prix starting in
2012.[1] Situated in the rolling hills southeast of the city, it is a 20-turn,
3.427-mile (5.515 km) road course.[2][3] In 2018, Phoenix was removed
from the 2019 IndyCar Series schedule, which opened up a gap in the
calendar.[1] At the same time, COTA chairman and CEO Bobby Epstein
emphasized the track's desire to be fully prepared for hosting a new event
after previously concentrating on its F1 andMotoGP races.[1]

Furthermore, a territorial restriction agreement that the IndyCar Series had

with Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) had previously prevented the series
from running races at COTA or other venues in Texas. However, IndyCar Series
negotiations between IndyCar and TMS president Eddie Gossage resulted Venue Circuit of the Americas
in the series giving the track a discounted sanction fee in exchange for
First race 2019
TMS allowing the series to schedule other races in Texas.[4][5] At the time
of the negotiations in August 2018, Jim Ayello of The Indianapolis Star speculated that the new deal between the series and TMS
would allow IndyCar to run at either COTA or a new street circuit in San Antonio.[5] Ultimately, the series scheduled a race in Austin
as a replacement for its former Phoenix race.[4][6] While Gossage had previously expressed concern that Texas could not adequately
support two IndyCar races, Epstein opined that TMS and COTA are far enough apart that their races will not adversely affect each
other.[3]

The inaugural IndyCar Classic will be held at COTA on March 24, 2019.[7][8] It will be one of the two additions to the 2019 IndyCar
Series schedule,[7] which officially revealed that COTA had obtained a race as part of a multi-year agreement when it was released on
September 4, 2018.[3][9] COTA will be joined on the 2019 schedule by a revived Grand Prix of Monterey on September 22, the
season finale and the first IndyCar race at Laguna Seca in 15 years.[7] COTA's IndyCar Classic will be the second race of the 2019
season,[8][10] following the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg two weeks earlier on March 10.[3][6][10] The placement of
the Austin race, as well as the forward shift of the Grand Prix of Alabama that follows it, will reduce the number of long gaps in the
early portion of the season.[3][6]

The IndyCar Classic will also be the first time that American open-wheel cars and
F1 have raced at the same track during the same season since 2006, when the now-
defunct Champ Car series and F1 both raced at Montreal.[10] As of September 2018,
COTA was considering modifying its track layout for the IndyCar Classic, similarly
to what it had previously done for the Australian-based V8 Supercars Austin 400
race, but Epstein did not speculate about what modifications might be made.[11] In
its F1 layout (at 3.427 miles (5.515 km) in length), COTA would be the second-
longest track on IndyCar's 2019 schedule, trailing only Road America (at 4.048
Pit lane at Circuit of the Americas
miles (6.515 km) long).[3]
In late October 2018, Tony Kanaan and Alexander Rossi became the first IndyCar drivers to test at COTA.[1][10] The entire field of
full-season drivers will test at the track for the series-mandated IndyCar Spring Training on February 12–13.[7][12] The second day
will feature an open period during which each team will have 11 hours to test the performance of its cars, while there will also be
nearly 5 hours of testing forIndy Lights teams.[10]

Rookie Colton Herta described the racing at COTA as likely to be "spectacular" because of the overtaking opportunities it offers.[1]
Rossi, who finished 12th in the 2015 United States Grand Prix at COTA racing for Manor Marussia, stated he was "very happy" that
the IndyCar Series is "headed to the best road course".[2] He also described COTA as "unlike any other track...by far the smoothest,
widest track that we have".[10] Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti added that he had "been pushing for this race for a long
time".[13]

For the inaugural race in 2019, Muse will play a headlining concert the night before the race, on Saturday, March 23.[1] Additional
concerts (including one by local act Asleep at the Wheel) and RV camping will take place during the entire race weekend, between
Friday, March 22, and Sunday, March 24.[1]

References
1. Bils, Chris (November 14, 2018)."A long time coming, IndyCar Classic to bring American racing stars to COT
A" (http
s://www.statesman.com/sports/20181114/long-time-coming-indycar-classic-to-bring-american-racing-stars-to-cota).
Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
2. Olson, Jeff (September 5, 2018)."INDYCAR drivers already geared up for 2019 Austin race"(https://www.indycar.co
m/News/2018/09/09-05-COTA-reaction-to-INDYCAR-schedule). IndyCar Series. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
3. Ayello, Jim (September 4, 2018)."IndyCar finalizes 2019 schedule with addition of Circuit of the Americas"
(https://w
ww.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2018/09/04/indycar-finalizes-2019-schedule-addition-cota/1189299002/). The
Indianapolis Star. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
4. Miller, Robin (September 4, 2018)."COTA to join 17-race 2019 IndyCar schedule" (https://racer.com/2018/09/04/cota
-to-join-17-race-2019-indycar-schedule/). Racer. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
5. Ayello, Jim (August 17, 2018)."Upcoming TMS-IndyCar deal could allow for races at COT
A, San Antonio" (https://w
ww.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2018/08/17/upcoming-tms-indycar-pact-would-allow-r
aces-cota-san-antonio/102
3778002/). The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
6. VanTryon, Matthew; Benbow, Dana Hunsinger (January 9, 2019). "New NBC partnership with IndyCar, still no live
broadcast for Indianapolis"(https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2019/01/09/indycar-2019-schedule-dates-ti
mes-tv-schedule/2517150002/). The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
7. Wilson, Phillip B. (February 8, 2019)."Hits keep on coming: recent news highlights INDYCAR growth"(https://www.in
dycar.com/News/2019/02/02-08-Miles-INDYCAR-growth-momentum). IndyCar Series. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
8. Petrowski, Lauren (November 16, 2018)."IndyCar Classic at Circuit of the Americas"(http://www.fox7austin.com/goo
d-day/indycar-classic-at-circuit-of-the-americas)
. KTBC. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
9. Crawford, Dakota (September 4, 2018)."INDYCAR fans going cuckoo over COT A" (https://www.indycar.com/News/2
018/09/09-04-Fan-reaction-to-COTA). IndyCar Series. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
10. Bils, Chris (January 11, 2019)."IndyCar spring training will be open to public at COT
A" (https://www.statesman.com/
sports/20190111/indycar-spring-training-will-be-open-to-public-at-cota). Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved
February 8, 2019.
11. Medland, Chris (September 4, 2018)."COTA evaluating track modifications for IndyCar" (https://racer.com/2018/09/0
4/cota-evaluating-track-modifications-for-indycar/)
. Racer. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
12. Brudenell, Mike (February 5, 2019)."Pieces in place, Rahal says team is striving for consistency in 2019"(https://ww
w.indycar.com/News/2019/02/02-05-Bobby-Rahal-on-team-chances) . IndyCar Series. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
13. Barnes, Joey (November 12, 2018)."INDYCAR hearts are racing to race at Circuit of the Americas"(https://www.ind
ycar.com/News/2018/11/11-12-INDYCAR-excited-going-to-COTA). IndyCar Series. Retrieved February 9, 2019.

External links
Official website
 Preceded by
IndyCar Series Succeeded by
Grand Prix of St.
IndyCar Classic Grand Prix of Alabama
Petersburg

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=IndyCar_Classic&oldid=889182657

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This page was last edited on 24 March 2019, at 01:21(UTC).

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