New Orleans race gets April12th date (Update)
"The Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana is the next big tourism win for the State of Louisiana," Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne said. "Race fans are passionate about their rapidly-growing sport. Once they experience our authentic culture, food and music during this professional IndyCar event, we're sure they will fall in love with Louisiana."
The Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana would like to welcome Verizon Wireless as a sponsor of the event and thank them for their support of the Verizon IndyCar Series. Additionally, the New Orleans Advocate joins the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana as the official newspaper and Champion of the Community sponsor and the inaugural Louisiana-owned sponsor of the event. 2015 is the first year in a three-year commitment by the Verizon IndyCar Series to host the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park. Located in Avondale, LA, NOLA Motorsports Park is 14 miles southwest of downtown, New Orleans.
"We are extremely excited to launch another historic first-ever race for IndyCar at NOLA Motorsports Park," said Tim Ramsberger, General Manager for the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana. "The park is a tremendous setting with all the right elements to serve as the fastest and most exciting adrenaline-filled party in the New Orleans area. I think this event will set a new standard for IndyCar racing." Previously, Ramsberger served as the founding President of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, now in its 10th year.
The NOLA Motorsports Park opened to the public in 2011. Founded and owned by Dr. Laney Chouest, the park will soon have the potential to accommodate Verizon IndyCar Series spectators thanks to a Public/Private partnership with The State of Louisiana. "The State of Louisiana understands the economic and cultural potential of this annual event. Track operations are already underway to transform NOLA Motorsports Park into a 13 Turn, 2.67-mile Verizon IndyCar Series circuit, complete with the state-of-the-art equipment, grandstands and viewing platforms racing fans need for a truly enjoyable experience," he said.
The Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana is governed by the NOLA Motor Host Committee, Inc. Kristen Engeron, President of the Committee and of NOLA Motorsports Park, predicts a robust interest in the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana, both regionally and nationally. "The New Orleans area is known as a destination for spectacular sporting and special events," she said. "We are confident that the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana will become another 'don't miss' Louisiana event along the with Jazz Fest, Essence Fest, Zurich Classic, Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four and Wrestlemania," she said.
"We're delighted about the opportunity to showcase the Verizon IndyCar Series at NOLA Motorsports Park and to INDYCAR fans in the greater New Orleans area," said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "The commitment from track owner Laney Chouest and his associates, combined with the support we received from the state of Louisiana, was the catalyst in making this come to fruition. New Orleans has a history of hosting successful major sporting events and we're thrilled to be able to add the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana to the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule."
The 2015 Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana takes place Friday, April 10, Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12, 2015 at NOLA Motorsports Park, www.nolamotor.com. Presale ticketing and previews will begin in late October for individuals who join the mailing list at www.GPofNOLA.com. Tickets will go on sale to the general public in November 2014. Sponsors and others interested in hospitality partnerships should contact David Goldwater with Andretti Sports Marketing, (678) 602-1661. Learn more at www.GPofNOLA.com.
08/27/14 The IndyCar series has committed to an April 12 race date for next season's inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana, a person close to the situation said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on this week condition of anonymity because the race date has not been publicly announced. Louisiana Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and IndyCar president Mark Miles were scheduled to take part in press conference Wednesday afternoon at NOLA Motorsports Park, which will host the race. AR1.com had Houston getting the April 12th date on its rumors page, but recent reports say the Houston race has been killed because IndyCar made them run the event in the dead of summer and no one showed up. So it looks like New Orleans, also in a hot climate, got the date. If Houston does happen, perhaps Houston will assume the March 22nd date that AR1.com showed for New Orleans. Running it in the summer months means certain death to the event.
The 2015 race will take place on the same weekend as the French Quarter Festival, a popular music festival held in and around the historic neighborhood for which it is named.
NOLA Motorsports Park had requested dates during either late March or in June, which are generally slower periods for the New Orleans tourism industry, but the racing series was unable to make those dates work for its 2015 season. USA Today/AP Story