The IndyCar Series starts its 2009 season Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla., amid a flurry of questions about the economy and the status of one of its most high-profile drivers. But there is also optimism about the nation’s top open-wheel racing series as it begins it second season as a fully unified body.
This time last year, IndyCar series racing teams scrambled to put together programs for former Champ Car drivers after a last-second merger that ended a long-standing rift between the two racing bodies. With that drama out of the way, teams are now starting a season in the teeth of a recession that has forced everyone to work harder.
“It’s tougher, there’s no question about it,” said Terry Angstadt, president of IndyCar Series commercial division. “You have to make more calls, you have to travel more you have to just hit the process harder than you ever have before.”
But IRL and its top-tier IndyCar Series could be in a unique position to capitalize on the economic downturn. Unlike NASCAR, the league isn’t dependent on the health of the American auto sector; all cars use Honda engines inside Dallara chassis. And the cost to support a winning car - about $8 million - is less than half that of Sprint Cup cars. IndyCar officials said they have positioned themselves as a lower-cost alternative for sponsors looking to break into the auto racing sector.
Despite some bumps in the road, IndyCar officials expect to have a strong financial year as they work to regain a premier place in the consciousness of sports fans.
“We have already seen growth,” Angstadt said. “Year over year, we are already ahead of last year. So we are in a fortune position right now. We think we have an opportunity to significantly grow this year.”
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