IndyCar eyeing Homestead return, South America (Update)

UPDATE With only one big weekend of racing at Homestead a year – the NASCAR season finale, ISC would like to add a 2nd big weekend early in the season to make better use of the facility. And some people may be questioning Colombia as a venue……

Colombia is a major global economy. Its exports include oil and coal. It has tremendous mineral deposits. And it has a long history of representative government. And unlike virtually any other country in Latin America, Colombia has never been ruled by a dictator. It is also the only country in Latin America to never default on its sovereign debt. Meanwhile, the country was hamstrung for more than 50 years by a never-ending civil war largely financed by the global drug trade.

But things have changed for the better, much better. First, the war is over and there’s a tremendous amount of pent-up demand for consumer goods and real estate. Instead of buying guns, Colombians are now focusing on better cars and apartments. This trend will last for decades, as the country becomes much, much wealthier thanks to peace and a free-trade agreement with the U.S.

Medellin is simply one of the greatest cities in the world thanks to its outstanding climate and its beautiful and intelligent people. It’s a must-see for global travelers. But it's currently about 75% cheaper than other, similarly high-quality global cities.

06/21/15

The last time IndyCar raced at Homestead was in 2010

IndyCar is in need of a couple of warm weather venues to start the 2016 season. If the series is going to end its season on Labor Day then it must start the season in late January – the week before the Super Bowl. So where is the weather perfect in the USA in late January? Miami of course.

Rumor has it that IndyCar has been talking to ISC about a possible return to the 1.5-mile Homestead oval. The series has not had much success drawing a crowd at Homestead in the past but late January is the frozen tundra up in the northeast and the mid-west and IndyCar fans would welcome the trip to southern, Florida.

With St. Petersburg, FL again slated for mid to late March, that means IndyCar needs to add another warm-weather venue in mid to late February. Rumor has it that IndyCar would like to fill that slot with a race in Colombia since Juan Montoya, Carlos Munoz, Sebastian Saavedra and Carlos Huertas are all from Colombia and that race, therefore, has a reasonable chance for success.