The rumors of Iowa Speedway's IndyCar demise were apparently greatly exaggerated, according to Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star.
Driver Graham Rahal speculated on Saturday afternoon that the IndyCar Series may not return to the 7/8-mile Speedway in Newton, Iowa.
But when asked about the driver's assessment, Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles told Cavin that he not only expected Iowa to return to the schedule next season but that he is also negotiating a multi-year deal with the Speedway.
The race has been held annually since 2007 and is expected to return at roughly the same time of the year next season.
"I doubt if (Rahal) meant to be setting policy," Miles told Cavin.
Changes that could be in store for the IndyCar Series next season is the number of midseason races. Miles is hoping to avoid a repeat of the congestion from this summer, which has seen non-stop track-related activities since the May 5 race in Brazil.
The weekend of May 12 was opening week at Indianapolis, the next two weekends were qualifying and Race Day for the Indianapolis 500 respectively. The next weekend saw a pair of races at Belle Isle Park in Detroit.
The following three weekends have featured three straight race events at Texas, Milwaukee and Iowa and the schedule is starting to take its toll, according to Miles.
"You don't have to spend much time in the paddock to see that the drivers are tired," he said. "The teams are tired. There needs to be some logical rhythm that allows for (rest)."
There is no rest for the weary this week either as teams are back on the road Monday for a private test on Tuesday at Pocono, the site of the July 7 race. Two more races will take place that month as Toronto has a scheduled two-day doubleheader for July 13-14.