Organizers are beginning construction on a circuit in New Orleans, Louisiana. The circuit will eventually be a permanent road course that would be great for an IndyCar or motorcycle races. The main course will be just over two miles long and feature some tight turns and a long stretch. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to make the circuit usable for a major racing organization such as IndyCar. If it is not completed, with all required safety features, before the race would be scheduled, then there would be a number of problems.
This is one option for the IndyCar organization. The organization is looking to add four extra races to the schedule for the 2013 season. This season, there were only 15 races on the schedule after one planned race in China was cancelled. IndyCar's contract with IZOD stipulates that the series must have 16 races. Although the cancellation did not result in any problems this season, that may not be the case in the future. Adding four races may prove to be a daunting task. If completed in time, the New Orleans circuit may be a good option. Randy Bernard, CEO of the organization, believed that a season opening race would be a good idea. The popularity of the Super Bowl could be used to bring in new fans. Unfortunately, it is not known if the circuit will be ready in time.
The last thing that the series needs is to have a race on the schedule that does not materialize. Although it might be a great location for an IndyCar race, it would probably be a bad idea for the race to be added to the schedule before it is tested and confirmed to be ready. I doubt the organization can afford to have a race cancelled once again, even if only due to sponsorship obligations. This season the organization has had enough problems and it really needs to have a great run in 2013 to eliminate all doubt about the viability of IndyCar. Hopefully in a couple of years there will be a race in New Orleans. In the meantime, however, the organization would be better off looking elsewhere.
Kristin Watt has been a fan of motorsports since she was a young girl and she watched NASCAR races with her mother. That love of NASCAR quickly evolved into a great enjoyment of many different motorsports including everything from local dirt track action to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans to the adrenaline rush of the extreme motocross events. She has been following motorsports for many years.
