IndyCar Celebration Highlights from St. Pete

Mark Miles had good things to say about IndyCar last night

IndyCar held their Series Celebration last night for the 2017 Series Champion, Josef Newgarden, at a local restaurant on the Tampa Bay shore line. Many sponsors, other track promoters and IndyCar drivers were present for the highly visual event. Mark Miles, CEO of IndyCar, presented a video recap of the season. Miles, who has been with IndyCar for 6 years now, talked about the fan metrics and how the TV ratings have increased since 2013.

Miles remarked, “The Championship is compelling. The races are competitive. Last year was the 12^th straight year where the championship came down to the last race. It is compelling all the way from the start to finish in the points race."

The long awaited TV package that will start next season was mentioned by Miles. “We are about five to ten business days away from announcing our next media package for the season after 2018. What I can tell you is there will be a very meaningful increase in the number of events that are broadcast. Broadcast package, cable package and a new direct to consumer offering as well. We are going to have a meaningful increase on the number of events that will either be on ABC or NBC. Which means fewer will be on Cable, the rest will all be on cable. And a very strong direct to consumer offering as well. We are excited about that."

Miles continued to talk about the new car. “Everywhere we go, the fans are talking about how beautiful this car is. Many of the veteran drivers I spoke to tonight said it isn’t just pretty. They are really looking forward to driving it. It is fun to drive it. It slides. I hear all these comments that are kind of what everybody hoped we would hear when we started to think about this a couple of years ago when people were screaming at us to get a little downforce off the car and make it harder to drive. It is done. We can’t wait to see it on the track starting here in St Pete. We think it is going to race great."

Castroneves warns his competitors that he is still in the game

Miles then presented Helio Castroneves, the enthusiastic Brazilian who raced for Team Penske for 17 years in IndyCar and now competes in the their sports car program, with a large shadowbox containing a piece of fencing and the image of Castroneves climbing the fence. Castroneves, who is the Grand Marshal for this race, graciously accepted the award with a few words. “I am not retired. I will be racing at the Indy GP and the Indy 500. So you competitors watch out. I am actually enjoying the new adventure with the new sports car. I have to thank Roger (Penske), Kathy (Penske) and Team Penske for giving me the opportunity to keep going with my career. Racing for me is the air that I breathe. Every time I am out there, I enjoy to be around race cars."

“Yes, it is a little bit strange to be here this weekend and not be in the race car but I am very honored to be the Grand Marshall. I still don’t know what the Grand Marshall does, but I very honored to do that. I know I am going to be driving the pace car. So if I go one more lap in that pacer car, please be patient with me. I am happy to be a part of the IndyCar family."

Then a very moving video highlighting Josef Newgarden was shown before the 2017 Champion was introduced to the crowd. Newgarden was shown doing his workout routine that is required to achieve the athletics that are required to drive an IndyCar. Newgarden took the stage and had a few humbling remarks. “Thank you everyone. It has been a huge privilege for me to be a part of this team. Tonight I want to thank my teammates, Helio (Castroneves), Will (Power) and Simon (Pagenaud). You guys are so much fun to work with. I think people think we are lying when we go to these press conferences and we are like all buddy buddy. We do get along really well and work well in the environment together. I think we make each other better. You guys certainly made me so much better last year. Thank you so much for everything you did. Any one of us could be standing up here as the champion because all four of our cars worked so well together and made it all happen. Without that dynamic, I don’t know that we could have pushed for the championship. I want to thank everyone on the team on each car, specifically the #2 car guys."