IRL meets with team owners

We summarize this Versus article about IndyCar Team owners who had a chance to quiz IndyCar Series officials on Saturday afternoon in Chicagoland at a regularly scheduled owners meeting on a variety of topics, including next season’s race at Brazil and the latest on new equipment expected to be implemented in 2012.

“It was a good general update," said Terry Angstadt, president, commercial division of the IndyCar Series. “We talked about the schedule – some of the tweaks we made to that, some of the things we still have to do to that. We talked about how we ended up at the schedule that we have and what our goals are for future schedules. We talked about sponsorship updates – some of the official categories we are filling in and our progress for a title sponsor. We talked about TV, which was a separate subject and an update on engine/chassis package and when we plan on announcing the rules for 2012."

Angstadt spoke to the team owners along with IndyCar Series president, competition division, Brian Barnhart and outgoing president of broadcasting Charlie Morgan, who is leaving the series to work for Emmis Communications in Indianapolis (Was he asked to leave because if the Versus deal?).

* The current television package that includes 12 races on VERSUS and five on ABC (The IRL believes Versus when it says it will grow the ratings.)
* Late-starting times, such as Saturday night’s 9:10 p.m. local start at Chicagoland Speedway: (Only 20,000 showed up on race day, the lowest ever for Chicagoland, but they did it because Versus told them the TV ratings would be higher. We await the results.)
* Status of the season-opening race in Brazil. (He and Cotman hope to sign the deal this week in Salvador, Brazil)
* Getting financial relief for the team owners from engine and chassis manufacturers: (The new 2012 car and engine should be less expensive for team owners. Until then costs will not go higher for current equipment.)
* A title sponsor: (For the 3rd year in a row he is 90% sure they will land one)
* Any chance to reconsider New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the future? (No)
* How many cars can the TEAMS program maintain before it becomes a financial issue? (22 to 24. Team numbers above that number won't get it)
* Danica Patrick staying in the IndyCar Series: (He thinks it is important. She looks to be staying)
* Getting Phoenix back on the schedule at some point: (ISC does not want them unless it's essentially free)