Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires Unveils Schedule
“Since we announced the new series in December, we have obviously been scrambling in a number of areas," said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, the series promoter. “I have to thank all of the track promoters for acting so quickly to allow us to finalize and announce our schedule. I am excited about our events for 2013. It is a good mix which will benefit our drivers as they continue up the ranks, and returning drivers and USF2000 graduates will both be exposed to new venues. In addition, the Mazda Road to Indy Summit program will continue to provide invaluable training to drivers in areas outside of the race car as well as race craft."
Pro Mazda will make its debut at the Circuit of the Americas with a pair of races in support of GRAND-AM on March 1/2. The 3.4-mile road course and world-class facility located in Austin, Texas, received accolades from competitors and fans after holding its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in November.
The streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., will host the next two rounds of competition as Pro Mazda joins the full Mazda Road to Indy contingent at the season-opening race for the IZOD IndyCar Series on March 23/24.
May and June will encompass the two oval events on the calendar at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Ind., for the popular “Night Before the 500" on May 25 and at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis., with INDYCAR and the Milwaukee IndyFest on June 15.
Pro Mazda will make its first swing through Canada in July with four races held over back-to-back weekends. Two races will be in support of INDYCAR on the streets of Toronto July 13/14 followed by two rounds with the American Le Mans Series at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (formerly Mosport) on July 20/21.
The series will again team with INDYCAR and the full Mazda Road to Indy ladder at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for a pair of races on August 3/4 before heading back to Canada for a double-header weekend at the popular Circuit Trois-Rivières street course on August 10/11.
The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season will conclude with two street course races at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas, in support of INDYCAR. The event will also be the site of the series’ season-ending awards banquet where the champion will be presented with a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to Firestone Indy Lights competition in 2014.
Nine test days are on offer prior to the start of the season in addition to private team testing, and competitors will have the opportunity to participate in three test days at the Circuit of the Americas before the season-opening race. Additional testing sessions will be held during the season at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lucas Oil Raceway, The Milwaukee Mile and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. The annual Oval Clinic – a seminar on the intricacies of oval racing – will be held on May 10 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Mazda Road to Indy Summit program will take place during the St. Petersburg and Lucas Oil Raceway events. Activities include Mazda’s Business of Motorsports seminar, formal media training, a social media and marketing class, fitness and wellness training, team owner meet-and-greets and shop tours. Competitors also will have the opportunity to participate in events around the Indianapolis 500 and the winner of the “Night Before the 500" will pace the Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights race at the famed Brickyard and be introduced before the start of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires 2013 Schedule
March 1/2 | Races 1/2 | Circuit of the Americas | Road Course | With GRAND-AM |
March 23/24 | Races 3/4 | Streets of St. Petersburg | Street Circuit | With INDYCAR |
May 25 | Race 5 | Lucas Oil Raceway | Oval | With USAC |
June 15 | Race 6 | The Milwaukee Mile | Oval | With INDYCAR |
July 13/14 | Races 7/8 | Streets of Toronto | Street Circuit | With INDYCAR |
July 20/21 | Races 9/10 | Canadian Tire Motorsports Park | Road Course | With ALMS |
August 3/4 | Races 11/12 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Road Course | With INDYCAR |
August 10/11 | Races 13/14 | Circuit Trois-Rivieres | Street Circuit | With NASCAR Canada |
October 5/6 | Races 15/16 | Reliant Park Houston | Street Circuit | With INDYCAR |
Test Sessions
February 9/10 | Palm Beach International Raceway | Official Series Test |
February 11/12 | Sebring International Raceway | Optional Series Test |
February 23/24 | Circuit of the Americas | Official Series Test |
February 28 | Circuit of the Americas | Optional Promoter Test Day |
May 9 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Official Series Test |
May 10 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Oval Clinic |
May 11 | Lucas Oil Raceway | Official Series Test |
(May 12 | Lucas Oil Raceway | Rain Date) |
May 24 | Lucas Oil Raceway | Optional Promoter Test Day |
May 29 | The Milwaukee Mile | Official Series Test Day |
(May 30 | The Milwaukee Mile | Rain Date) |
July 18 | Canadian Tire Motorsports Park | Optional Promoter Test Day |
August 1 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Optional Promoter Test Day |