Iowa Speedway and INDYCAR Announce Additions to 2015 Race Weekend
"Fans asked for more on-track entertainment on INDYCAR race day, and we are pleased to be able to provide them with it," said Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small. "As a race fan myself, I’m excited to see the stars of tomorrow come to grips with the new Dallara on ‘The Fastest Short Track on the Planet.’ Iowa Speedway is the place for drivers on the rise to make a name for themselves, and we are delighted to be able to host the Indy Lights and Pro Mazda Championship here in Newton, Iowa."
The additions of Indy Lights and Pro Mazda Championship to the Verizon IndyCar Series weekend bolster an already impressive 2015 schedule which includes the previously released dates for the NASCAR XFINITY Series (currently the NASCAR Nationwide Series); ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, USAC Silver Crown Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
The Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires has become a training ground for drivers who aspire to become INDYCAR greats. The series has groomed current IndyCar Series drivers Scott Dixon, Ed Carpenter, Marco Andretti, Carlos Munoz, Sebastian Saavedra and James Hinchcliffe, among others.
The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires is the second official step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system, bridging the gap between the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. The series champion is awarded a scholarship package to advance to Indy Lights competition the following year.
As part of their commitment to assisting drivers’ progress from the grassroots of the sport up to the Verizon IndyCar Series, INDYCAR, via the Mazda Road to Indy, guarantees the 2015 Indy Lights champion a three-race program in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series, including an entry in the 100th Indianapolis 500.
The Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires will debut its new AER turbo-powered Dallara IL-15 Indy Lights car in 2015. The new Indy Lights car boasts a state-of-the-art carbon composite chassis, constructed to the latest Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and INDYCAR safety standards, and will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged AER engine producing 450 HP capable of reaching speeds of 200 mph. Additional features include a six-speed, paddle-shift transmission, a 50 HP "push-to-pass" feature, "drive-by-wire" throttle control and advanced engine management electronics.
More details, including on-sale dates and season ticket holder renewal information, will be announced soon. Iowa Speedway will continue to focus on enhancing the fan experience as its top priority, and will build upon successful improvements made in 2014.