World’s Top Driver Development Series Will Race During INDYCAR Weekend
PORTLAND, Ore. (October 17, 2017) - The Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires unveiled its 2018 calendar of events earlier today.
Coming off last week’s exciting Grand Prix of Portland announcement revealing the return of Indy car racing to Portland International Raceway (PIR) and the Pacific Northwest, the most effective driver development program in the world will add to the open-wheel excitement on the weekend schedule, August 31-September 2.
This highly acclaimed development platform for motorsports rising stars – comprised of Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda – will enter the new season with a trio of state-of-the-art chassis ready for competition including the debut of the new Pro Mazda PM-18 which completes the revitalization of the entire open-wheel racing ladder system.
“We’ve put a lot of thought into our schedule and I am pleased with the balance we have in place to properly train drivers to move up the ladder,” said Dan Andersen, owner and chief executive officer of Andersen Promotions, the company which oversees the operations of the Mazda Road to Indy. “We are excited to have Portland on the schedule, which will be a great circuit for our season finales in the three series.”
Indy Lights last raced at PIR in 2001, and Pro Mazda and USF2000 in 2006. The last Indy car race took place in 2007 and will now run on a slightly reconfigured 1.967-mile, 12-turn permanent road course on Labor Day weekend 2018.
”The racing competition and the depth of driver talent showcased in the Mazda Road to Indy have been fantastic. Dan (Andersen) and his Andersen Promotions team have done a phenomenal job of building each step of the development ladder for open-wheel racing’s future stars,” said Kevin Savoree, president and chief operating officer of Green Savoree Racing Promotions. “In addition to the headliner Verizon IndyCar Series, we’re proud to bring all three of these series back to PIR during the Grand Prix of Portland in 2018.”
For more information, visit portlandgp.com, facebook.com/PortlandGP or follow updates on Twitter @Portland_GP and Instagram at @Portland_GP. Join the social media conversation with #PortlandGP. Tickets for the Grand Prix of Portland will go on sale in early 2018. The complete Mazda Road to Indy season schedule for all three series can be found at www.indycar.com/RoadToIndy.
ABOUT ANDERSEN PROMOTIONS
Andersen Promotions oversees all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires. The company has a long and successful background in promoting open-wheel championships and has also owned multiple race teams – including USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights teams – in the past. Andersen Promotions in 2010 relaunched the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, which it operated from 1992 through 2001. In December of 2012, Andersen Promotions founded the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires to replace the void left by the Star Mazda Series which ceased operations after 22 years. On July 12, 2013, it was announced that Andersen Promotions would take over the licensing and operation of Indy Lights from INDYCAR beginning with the 2014 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires season.
ABOUT GREEN SAVOREE RACING PROMOTIONS
Green Savoree Racing Promotions (GSRP) is an Indianapolis-based motorsports event ownership and management company that owns, operates and promotes race properties in Lexington, Ohio, home of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, Portland, Ore., St. Petersburg, Fla., Toronto, Ontario. GSRP events showcase some of the most exciting racing series on the continent including the Verizon IndyCar Series, Mazda Road to Indy development series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Pirelli World Challenge and more. In working together since 1993, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree have won four IndyCar championships, three Indy 500 races and the 12 Hours of Sebring as team principals, and established the first IndyCar street race in 2004. More information about the company is available on its event websites at www.gpstpete.com, www.hondaindytoronto.com, www.midohio.com and www.portlandgp.com.
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