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Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines:

1. In case you missed it: Dreyer & Reinbold teleconference

2. IZOD IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy drivers celebrate Thanksgiving

3. Star Mazda champion Tristan Vautier signs with Sam Schmidt Motorsports

4. Honda Indy Toronto tickets on sale Nov. 23

5. Hawksworth signs with Team Pelfrey for Star Mazda Championship

1. In case you missed it: Dreyer & Reinbold teleconference: Dreyer & Reinbold team owners Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl were guests on today’s INDYCAR conference call. The pair discussed the team’s decision to join Lotus for 2012 and its plans for the upcoming season. A full transcript and MP3 audio of the call is available at www.indycar.com/media.

Selected quotes are below.

Q. What do you gentlemen like in Lotus? Why did you make this move with them particularly?

ROBBIE BUHL: Well, I think one of the things, as I said at the opening, you know, their focus of how they are going to rebrand their sports car and how they promote that and market that is going to be through the IndyCar program.

So they are going to be pretty vested in doing everything they can to make sure their teams are successful and healthy. I mean, that’s a good thing from a commercial side of it.

But they are an engineering company. And to tap into the resources of what they already have in place and kind of on the payroll there, we are hoping that that really provides us some additional engineering support as we continue, as Dennis said, as we kind of are rebranding ourselves Team Lotus, DRR and really kind of going under a different initiative here of really strengthening our engineering department and kind of building out from the technical and engineering side of our company, and then complementing it with just a good operations department and commercial department.

Q. You talk about engineering changes. Obviously that means Larry Curry, it was announced he won’t be returning next year. So when you say looking to bolster the engineering side, does that mean having additional IndyCar engineers or Lotus engineers or both? And do you know when there will be an announcement?

DENNIS REINBOLD: We have one guy starting next week, and he’s going to be basically a systems type of engineer. So he will be overseeing the entire technical package and componentry just to make sure everything we touch is assembled as well as we can get it.

And so we are going to do quite a bit of testing coming up. So it’s going to be a pretty test intensive off season, so we are really looking forward to getting on track, as well as getting our guys to touch and measure and look all over the new chassis to figure out what makes it tick so we can go a little quicker.

And we will be adding some other people. I know earlier on it was said that we are going to be two full time cars and one more at Indy, that’s still up in the air. We have not signed a driver yet. That’s something that Robbie and I are working on right now, and we are hoping to take care of that the next few weeks.

And we don’t know if we are going to be one or two cars. We would like to be two cars, and we are set up for that. So that’s our goal.

Q. Dennis, you’ve acknowledged that you didn’t have the greatest year in 2011, so there’s a bit of a performance gap that needs to be closed, but you’re also working with an engine manufacturer that’s new to the series. So once you get on track you and start testing, what is the priority? Speed or reliability?

DENNIS REINBOLD: Both, obviously, are important. The reliability is something that we’ll work closely in testing with Lotus. Hopefully that’s not an issue, and we can focus more on speed. That’s a little more fun to work on.

But yeah, you try to make sure that all of the like Robbie said before, until you get the cars out on the track and until we lineup at St. Pete, there’s a lot of unknowns that are going to come into the 2012 season, not just for us, but for the entire field. You do the best you can in testing and you trust that Lotus, as well as Honda and Chevy are going to make a good product, as well as Dallara, and it’s going to be raceable. So you go out and do whatever you can.

We’ll probably the reliability is going to fall upon Lotus more so than us, and then the speed out of the car is going to fall on us more than Lotus. Although Lotus will help us with the chassis development as well.

Q. One more question for you. You guys have both been in the series for more than a decade as tea, owners and principles. There’s definitely an excitement for the new engine and chassis package in 2012. Can you recall a time in your tenure as owners in the series, which stretches back to 1999 and 2000, where there has been, A, this much change, and B, this much excitement about an equipment package? We have had equipment packages before during your time but doesn’t seem to be as extensive as maybe the new package for 2012. Do you have any comments on that?

DENNIS REINBOLD: Yeah, I think it’s most exciting time that I remember. We have three engine manufacturers coming in, and a brand new chassis, and that’s all happening at one time.

And then we’re a year away from a body kit package that each of the manufacturers, it looks like, will design for the car. So we are going to have plenty of challenges facing us.

This past year was great in a lot of ways. We had incredible crowds at most of our races. And so there’s a lot to build on for 2012. We have got some pretty good momentum. I know our TV ratings are up significantly over where they have been.

We work hard to just kind of keep our head down and control what is within our control and working with our sponsors, there’s a level of excitement that they have as we go forward to a brand new opportunity in 2012.

ROBBIE BUHL: And another variable that’s going to be kind of new to us is and not new to everybody, but we are going back to turbo charged motor. They are a smaller displacement. We are going to the V 6. So that’s a big thing just historically looking back.

But this whole idea of maybe controlling the horsepower of the cars as we transition from short ovals to big ovals to street and road courses I think really is going to be an interesting twist to how we manage our product and how it looks on track. It’s going to be exciting.

2. IZOD IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy drivers celebrate Thanksgiving: IZOD IndyCar Series driver Jay Howard, Star Mazda drivers Nick Mancuso and Zach Veach, and USF2000 driver Shannon McIntosh shared their plans for Thanksgiving with IndyCar.com.

NICK MANCUSO: Typically, my hometown friends and I start the festivities with a “Turkey Bowl” flag-that-becomes-tackle football game Thursday morning. Then we descend upon our respective homes and I try my best to help/stay out of my Mom’s way as she cooks up a storm. My parents’ house has always been the traditional gathering place, with anywhere from 10-25 people showing up hungry and ready to eat.

JAY HOWARD: I will be at my wife Courtney’s parents’ house eating tons and watching NFL in the man cave! I am actually also playing some flag football as well!

ZACH VEACH: Fortunately, I am going to be home for Thanksgiving this year. It’s always real special for me to spend time catching up with my close and distant family. I’m always thankful for how supportive they are—they constantly surprise me with how much they know about the racing world! Going to my grandparent’s house for dinner with the whole family is my favorite tradition. It’s just a day to slow down, enjoy the company and get embarrassed by all of the stories about the things I did when I was little.

SHANNON McINTOSH: Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it back to Ohio for Thanksgiving and this will be the first time I have spent this holiday away from family. :( With so many things going on, I opted to wait a few weeks to see them at Christmas time. I will however, be spending it with my trainer and family in St. Pete.

I typically do a five mile run called the Turkey Trot with my Grandpa on Thanksgiving morning in my hometown of Miamisburg, Ohio. It’s a great way to start the day and forget about having to be guilty when you eat later in the day!

3. Star Mazda champion Tristan Vautier signs with Sam Schmidt Motorsports: Just two months after winning the 2011 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear title, Tristan Vautier has already aligned himself with a championship-caliber Firestone Indy Lights team.

Sam Schmidt Motorsports, which has won four of the last six Firestone Indy Lights titles, including the 2011 championship with Josef Newgarden, announced Nov. 18 that it has signed Vautier for the 2012 season.

Vautier received a Mazda Road to Indy scholarship to advance to Firestone Indy Lights after he won the Star Mazda Championship this past season. The Mazda Road to Indy Program, in its third year of existence, aims to help talented young drivers advance their careers and ultimately move to the top level of open-wheel racing—the IZOD IndyCar Series.

“When Mazda established our ladder program in 2007, we had drivers exactly like Tristan in our minds—drivers that can get the job done in the car and out of the car,” said John Doonan, Director of Mazda Motorsports. “We are so proud to be associated with the IZOD IndyCar Series on the Mazda Road to Indy and Tristan will be a terrific representative in 2012.

“Sam Schmidt Motorsports was the champion’s choice again for this coming season, and after such a successful campaign with Conor Daly in 2011, it appears Tristan will be in good hands for a run at the 2012 Firestone Indy Lights Championship.”

In the two years that the scholarship has been awarded, both Star Mazda champions have chosen to compete with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. The fact that the team has produced the five series champions since 2004 makes it a popular choice for drivers looking to emulate that success.

“Tristan brings a wealth of experience and success to the team, and I’m excited to have him in the No. 77 car,” said Sam Schmidt Motorsports owner Sam Schmidt, whose team scored wins with four different drivers in 2011. “I look forward to working with another of the Mazda Road to Indy scholarship winners. It’s a good program, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Vautier spent two seasons in the Star Mazda Championship. In 2010, he won two races, finished on podium three times, had five top-five finishes, 10 top-10s and finished fifth in the championship. This past season, he had four wins and six podiums with JDC Motorsports and never finished outside the top five.

“First off, I’d like to express how thankful I am to Mazda, INDYCAR and Sam Schmidt for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime,” Vautier said. “It’s an honor to know that I will be representing the Mazda Road to Indy one step below the IZOD IndyCar Series next season, and I can’t wait to be in the car. Knowing I will drive for a championship-winning team such as Sam Schmidt Motorsports makes it feel even better, and the guys can be sure I’ll give it my all. Now, I have a lot of work ahead of me and tons of things to learn.”

Learning is something that Vautier has stressed as very important to him leading up to his first season in Firestone Indy Lights. He recently proved his potential in the larger, more powerful car in an open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in late October.

When deciding which team to go to for the 2012 season, Vautier said that Sam Schmidt Motorsport’s success in Indy Lights was not the only thing that attracted him to the team. He looked ahead to the future and what he hopes to one day accomplish in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

“Sam Schmidt Motorsports has a successful IZOD IndyCar Series structure, which makes me hope to be able to develop something on the longer term if I get strong results and do a good job out of the car,” he said.

Now that he has signed with a team, Vautier looks forward to focusing on other aspects of preparing for 2012. On his agenda is learning more about the car and building up his endurance for Firestone Indy Lights races, which are longer than races in Star Mazda. He can also take a second to realize how quickly his career has developed in such a short period of time.

“These two months went by really fast, and this strong ladder system makes things move very quickly for the championship winners,” he said. “It’s only November, and I’m already signed at the next level.”

4. Honda Indy Toronto tickets on sale Nov. 23: The 2012 edition of the Honda Indy Toronto will mark a new milestone in auto racing with the introduction of a new IZOD IndyCar Series chassis and the return of engine manufacturer competition.

The event returns to the streets of Toronto July 6-8, 2012. Tickets will be available for sale on November 23, in time for the holiday season.

“Thanks to growing sponsorships, vendors and quality racing, the event continues to deliver a unique experience,” said Charlie Johnstone, Vice-President and General Manager, Honda Indy Toronto. “The addition of a new chassis and engine competition will heat things up even more.”

The 2012 Honda Indy Toronto will continue to bring a diverse schedule of events for Canadian race fans. The marquee event will continue to be the IZOD IndyCar Series, with the support series races to be announced at a later date.

Tickets start at $30 for a single day general admission pass on Saturday and peak at $423 for a weekend Gold-level grandstand pass. To purchase tickets or to view a complete list of prices and ticket packages, visit hondaindytoronto.com/tickets or call 1-877-503-6869.

5. Hawksworth signs with Team Pelfrey for Star Mazda Championship: Team Pelfrey has signed 20-year-old Englishman Jack Hawksworth for the 2012 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear season.

Hawksworth adds even more momentum to the surging team, which had an extremely successful 2011 season with drivers Connor de Phillippi and Nick Andries who finished second and third in the points standings, respectively—a finish that was enough to take the 2011 Team Championship. Overall, the team won four races, had 13 podium finishes, captured three poles and posted the fastest race lap five times.

“We are delighted to welcome Jack to Team Pelfrey,” team manager Geoff Fickling said. “He is exactly the type of driver our team looks for – quick, intelligent, dedicated, and easy to work with. It’s great that he’s made the decision to pursue a career of it in the states, and we look forward to great things this coming year, and feel that Jack has an extremely bright future within the Mazda Road to Indy.”

Hawksworth joins the team fresh off of a fourth-place finish in the Formula Renault U.K. Championship in 2011. Throughout the season, he scored one win, four podium finishes and one pole position. He also competed in the series during the 2010 season—his first year of car racing—finishing third in the championship.

A native of Bradford, England, Hawksworth began karting in 2004 at the South Yorkshire kart club in Junior Max. After spending a year at the club level, he moved on to the National and International levels where he eventually captured the 2006 European Junior Max title. Towards the end of his karting career, he won the Senior Max British Kartmasters Grand Prix championship in 2010.

In late October, Hawksworth made his way out to Indianapolis for the two-day Chris Griffis Memorial Mazda Road to Indy Open Test. He was fastest in the afternoon session of the second day of Star Mazda Championship testing.

“I’m delighted to have agreed terms to compete for such a successful outfit,” Hawksworth said. “I really like the way Team Pelfrey works. Their preparation is excellent, and it’s good to be in such a professional environment. I can’t wait to get back in the car, and I believe we can carry our testing form forward into next year.”

- INDYCAR, Press Release

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

TranSystems is a global engineering firm focused on delivering solutions across the entire transportation world. To achieve this, TranSystems consulting services span all modes, including architectural, engineering and planning, management and supply chain, transportation security and transportation real estate consulting services.

Integral to TranSystems involvement with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is a strong commitment to the official charitable arm of the team, Racing For Kids. At multiple race events in 2011, TranSystems executives and their clients will make dedicated hospital visits to children’s hospitals and participate in numerous silent auctions, with all proceeds going to Racing For Kids.

“We’ve been fortunate at TranSystems to have partnered with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Racing for Kids. First, it meets our own need to contribute, to give something back, as we support these professional IZOD IndyCar drivers in their tireless visits to children’s hospitals around the world. Second, it’s given us a great opportunity to introduce our flagship clients to this worthy cause, while providing a forum for entertainment, leveraging our relationship with those same clients,” stated Brian Larson, Chairman & CEO of TranSystems Corporation.

Founded in Detroit in 1989, Racing for Kids® is designed to use the increasing popularity of motorsports to focus public attention and funding on the health care needs of children. Racing for Kids® representatives have visited more than 20,000 young patients in nearly 400 hospitals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Australia. In addition, over $5 million has been raised through donations and specific fund raising events for children’s hospitals and child health institutions and causes across the country.

“Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is extremely happy to renew our relationship with TranSystems. We have worked hard to maintain a strong relationship and we couldn’t be happier to have them commit to us for a seventh year in 2011. We have grown together and certainly look forward to excelling on and off the track this year,” commented Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Co-Owner, Robbie Buhl.

TranSystems will be featured on Justin Wilson’s No. 22 car for the 2011 season and will have primary sponsorship status at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma this year. DRR had a very successful 2010 season with Wilson. The team/driver duo earned two podium results with second place finishes at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. They also earned a pole position together at the Honda Indy Toronto and led 11 laps at the Indianapolis 500.

“This is a great opportunity for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. I’d like to personally thank Brian Larson for his continued support,” commented Dennis Reinbold, Dreyer & Reinbold Co-Owner.

The Indianapolis based crew will hit the pavement March 14th and 15th for the first open test of the season at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. Please stay tuned for more announcements to come in the following days.

About Racing For Kids

Founded in Detroit in 1989, Racing For Kids® is designed to use the increasing popularity of motorsports to focus public attention and funding on the health care needs of children. The hospital visits form the heart of the program. Racing For Kids® drivers visit children in Children’s Hospitals wherever they race. They spend time with each sick youngster answering questions about their sport, posing for pictures, signing autographs and handing out the distinctive Racing For Kids® hats, coloring books and assorted memorabilia provide by our sponsors. Racing For Kids® representatives have visited with more than 20,000 young patients in nearly 400 hospitals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Australia. In addition, nearly $5 million has been raised through donations and specific fund raising events for children’s hospitals and child health institutions and causes across the country.

About Dreyer & Reinbold Racing:

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is entering its 12th season of full-time competition in 2011, making it one of the longest-tenured teams in IZOD IndyCar Series competition. Current Co-Owners, Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl, first teamed in full-time competition at the Walt Disney World Speedway in January of 2000. With Buhl behind the wheel, the two owners tasted victory in their debut race. The 2009 IZOD IndyCar Series season-opener, on the streets of St. Petersburg, marked Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s 200th series start. DRR now has over 270 starts to tuck under its belt and has qualified a total of 27 cars for the Indianapolis 500. In its history, the team has boasted a championship list of alumni drivers. Besides Buhl, the team has run Indianapolis 500 winners, Al Unser, Jr., Buddy Lazier, and Buddy Rice, along with IZOD IndyCar Series race winner, Ryan Briscoe. The team has one of the longest lines of heritage in American open-wheel racing and the Indianapolis 500 as Dennis Reinbold’s grandfather, “Pop” Dreyer, built leading roadsters that raced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

More information on TranSystems can be found at www.transystems.com.

More information on Racing For Kids can be found at www.racingforkids.org.

More information on the team can be found at www.dreyerreinboldracing.com.

More information on the IZOD IndyCar Series can be found at www.indycar.com.

- Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Press Release

IZOD IndyCar® Series

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the IZOD IndyCar series teleconference, in which we have announced the 2011 series schedule. That event took place today at the Milwaukee Mile, and the Mile played an important role in the 2011 schedule. We’ll get to that in just a bit.

Our guest today is IZOD IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard, and Randy will talk about the schedule.

Before I ask a question of Randy, I want to give a few bullet points about the schedule. There are 17 events. There are nine road and street events, eight ovals. The schedule remains the most diverse and challenging schedule in all of motorsports. The season opener is March 27 on the streets of St. Petersburg, and the Brazil race moves to May 1, that’s the street course down there in Sao Paulo. It is the lead in race to the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, which is May 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

And then we have an exciting dual race set up at Texas Motor Speedway on June 11. That’s one of two night races. The other night race is June 25 at Iowa Speedway on the oval there. That event moves to a night race. And sandwiched between those two events is the return of the Milwaukee Mile on Sunday June 19. We are very happy to return to Milwaukee. It’s an historical venue of great importance to the IndyCar Series, and all of open wheel racing.

Another new event is August 14 at New Hampshire, Indy style racing returns to New Hampshire after a hiatus. Very pleased to go back up into New England to the great race fans up there.

And we also have a new event September 4 on the streets of Baltimore, an exciting city course that takes us past the world renowned Inner Harbor and that will be a lot of fun.

Kentucky shifts to October 2, and the season finale which will be announced in the coming weeks, will be on an oval.

Randy, thank you for joining us today. Appreciate it.

RANDY BERNARD: Thanks for having me.

THE MODERATOR: What were the goals of the 2011 schedule while you were building it with various series partners, and how does this schedule meet those objectives?

RANDY BERNARD: I think the first thing we need to do is we wanted to make sure we defined IndyCar first. And I think that we need to make sure that when we define IndyCar, it’s truly what we are, and that is the most versatile, fastest race car and race car drivers in the world; and just separates us from F1 and separates us from NASCAR, and it’s truly what IndyCar is.

And in doing that, we need to make sure that we keep the versatility from the different types of tracks that we race, and that includes having superspeedways with short ovals as well as road courses and street courses. And I think that when we set the 2011 schedule up this year, the one thing we wanted to make sure that we were doing is making sure that there was versatility through and through that series.

Q. Mr. Kelly, it’s a pleasure to hear your voice again. Randy, there’s been a lot of talk that the finale could be in Las Vegas and curious if you could update us on the status of that, and if you have a deadline for securing financial backing for a possible Vegas event.

RANDY BERNARD: Well, Jeff, you and I go way back and you know how much I love Vegas, and I think Vegas is one of the greatest cities in the world. I don’t think there’s a better city in the world to culminate your championships than in Vegas.

I think that knowing me, you know that that has to be one of my goals. I have tremendous relationships there with the LVTVA, as well as with the tremendous amount of hotels and casinos. So right now we are doing our due diligence and hoping that we can come to an agreement here very shortly on that event.

But we also have … Fontana is very interested if we cannot get that done. So that’s one of the key reasons we have not made the decision at this point yet, but I’m optimistic that we’ll see some type of decision made within the next two weeks.

Q. Normally a series like this would have some adjustments to the schedule, but you walked into a situation with really a major overall. Do you feel like this is kind of a relief, given all that you’ve had to go through? Was it a pretty daunting challenge? Maybe not as big as the CART challenge, but a pretty good size?

RANDY BERNARD: I think the relief will come next year if we sell out and have big-time attendance at these races. I think the work just begins. Now that we have announced the schedule, we have to make sure that we follow through and work on marketing strategies that allow us to have great crowds, and I think that’s one of our biggest concerns; our objective is that we need to really work on, and that is making sure that we grow in our sport.

Q. Can you give me a sense for how many of these I don’t ask for specifics maybe, but for how many of these events you had to be a promoter or take a more active role in?

RANDY BERNARD: I have actually … of the 16 that we have announced, we will not be … we will be helping with Milwaukee the most, I would say.

We have 100 percent confidence in all of Bruton Smith’s tracks. I think Bruton has told us time and time again that he really, really likes open-wheel racing and IndyCar, and he wants to see it grow.

So I think that those are the type of partners that we want to make sure that we are working with, because they are not only saying it; they are doing it.

Q. One thing strikes me about the schedule is that there’s pretty good pacing and separation between events on the schedule; can you speak to that as well as specifically to the extra week between Toronto and Edmonton to recover from the carnage that quite often happens at that Toronto race and to get across the country.

RANDY BERNARD: I have to give 100 percent of that credit to Sarah Davis, who has helped orchestrate the schedule, and I think that she has done a really good job of working with these promoters and making sure that there is time in between some of these events.

And the other one, the big one was between the Indianapolis 500 and Texas. Same thing; we felt that after the Indianapolis 500, the team owners needed a little bit more time probably to work on their cars and get their teams together.

So that was the reason we took that week off there, as well.

Q. And can you speak to the Toronto / Edmonton?

RANDY BERNARD: I tell you, they are two great events on the schedule, my first time, both of them this year. And in Toronto, a huge city and the city shuts down for IndyCar up there. It was absolutely fantastic to see the crowd and how much they enjoyed it. Then we went to Edmonton, and they had perfect weather and they had a great race.

But I really enjoyed both Canadian events.

Q. Can you talk to the spacing between those two races? It was back-to-back consecutive weekends last year.

RANDY BERNARD: It just worked out that way. I think it’s because the promoters wanted it that way and Sarah, and I think it makes great sense. It allows them to promote the winner out of Toronto for Edmonton, for sure.

Q. It looks like there’s a pretty specific break between you guys and ISC, the four tracks you are dropping are ISC. I’m wondering if that’s because you couldn’t cut a deal with them or because SMI made you an offer you couldn’t refuse. And also wondering if Homestead was more of a victim that it’s an ISC track or that you don’t want to come any more?

RANDY BERNARD: No, no, I don’t want to get shot when I go down there, that’s for sure. But I think that we never want to close doors with any of our promoters, especially ISC.

ISC has promoted almost 70 races; 66 races in their history with us, and I think that’s very important to know. But I also think it’s very important that we have to make sure that we are trying to move IndyCar to the next level, the IZOD IndyCar Series, and our … one of our goals has to be, for next year, is let’s get 24 different promoters interested in the series, and let’s make sure we pick the top 17, 18, 19 events. And I think that’s very important for us to do.

So Bruton didn’t underestimate … if you don’t do ISC. He has never mentioned ISC to me. So I mean, unfortunately ISC was a victim this year of … the scheduling was a major issue; sanction agreement and fees were another, and I think third would be marketing. Those would be the key factors most likely as to why we are not going back to any of those four tracks.

Q. Would you like to come back to Homestead at some point if you had the opportunity?

RANDY BERNARD: Yeah, I think Homestead … you never rule out any track. I think we want to play … we want to race at tracks where we can have significant amount of press in the market, as well as great crowds.

And if there was a way that we could see it, planning to take it to that level, definitely we would return to Homestead.

Q. You mentioned three items about the break in ISC, Daytona Beach is the home of the ISC and looking as that aspect of the scheduling; you mentioned about marketing and not competing against NASCAR. What were some of the other items?

RANDY BERNARD: The scheduling, sanctioning fees and agreements, and marketing were the primary factors.

John Saunders and I had a great conversation in Chicago. I have spoken with Lesa several times, and we are not burning bridges. We want to keep a great relationship there, but we also, we believe that we have a great set of promoters and a great set of tracks on our 2011 series.

Q. Back to the Homestead issue. How much did the attendance play a factor? They were not exactly running in front huge crowds there. Was that a factor, as well?

RANDY BERNARD: A significant factor. I think that that’s one of the primary factors we have to look at in going somewhere is the attendance, and if you can’t deliver attendance, I’m not sure why any series would want to continue to go back.

You know, I think Homestead, I’ve never been there, so this will be my first time, but I’ve had a lot of people tell me it’s a great race.

Again, we don’t want to close doors. If we can figure out a way to make and put that back on the series, I would not want to say it would be a final event if we could work out a deal with Vegas, but I think that it definitely is going on our series again.

Q. Getting off on a different tack, welcome to the United States. You arrived back yesterday, didn’t you?

RANDY BERNARD: Yes, ma’am, I sure did.

Q. Could you talk at all about your travels, or is that something you can’t discuss at this time?

RANDY BERNARD: I can discuss some of it, and I think the part that can’t is that my primary objective in going to Europe was meeting with auto manufacturers, press and F1 teams and just letting them know the direction of IndyCar and that we are alive and well and have great momentum. I think we accomplished that.

Also, we want to make sure that we tried to invite as many manufacturers to participate for either engines or aero kits as possible for 2012 in the new car.

So it was a whirlwind of a tour, and I think it will be very rewarding for us.

Q. Then you feel that it was well received?

RANDY BERNARD: Yes, ma’am, I feel it was very well received. Some of our meetings that were supposed to be two hours ended up over five hours. I think we had a great response, and everybody was very welcoming to us, and very genuine in their interest in IndyCar. I think it speaks big volumes for the series and our momentum, I think.

Q. I wanted your thoughts on the New Hampshire event next August. The last time the IndyCars were in New England’s it didn’t get a very good crowd at all, and even with the NASCAR stop in New Hampshire, auto racing is down the food chain as far as New England sports are concerned. How important is it in having SMI and marketing muscle behind them to solidify open wheel racing in New England’s? This may be a better question for the track, but do you plan on bringing in the modified racing there? Your general thoughts right now.

RANDY BERNARD: First, I think Jerry Gappens is very interested in bringing modifieds, and I think there’s some technical questions that have to be asked regarding tires, to make sure they are most comparable on the same track. I know that Richmond several years back, we had a problem with modifieds. They just wanted to make sure, if that’s possible, which I’m sure it is, just get together.

And then second, on your question in regards to marketing, first I think Bruton Smith and SMI are absolutely fantastic marketers. They understand IndyCar. And I think that with the power and the momentum that IndyCar and the IZOD IndyCar Series currently have, I think that will play a positive.

And I think the third point on that would be our sponsorship participation and activation. We have signed 14 new sponsors in the past 12 months, and then we have this year, first year having IZOD as our title, I think the amount of activation that they can work the market, especially IZOD wants to work Boston, I think that you’ll see great crowds.

Q. You have mentioned the name of Bruton Smith a couple of times already and SMI, do you sense an improved level of comfort with dealing with that group, and do you think that they can take the sport in a different direction, a better direction than ISC could have?

RANDY BERNARD: I don’t want to play an SMI-better-than-ISC game, because I think, again, I’m trying to keep both doors open, because I think it’s very important. But I will say I feel very comfortable with SMI. I think that Bruton and I talked extensively, and Bruton has great ideas, and he wants to see IndyCar grow.

I think, you know, when you’re dealing with the top and you know that the top all the way down to all of the track presidents are fully working toward building IndyCar, that’s very important to us as a series.

Q. Great to see Milwaukee back on the schedule. How long has this been in the works?

RANDY BERNARD: Well, I tell you, when I first came on March 1, probably by March 15, if I had not heard from, I don’t know how many fans said that was some of the best racing and how it was such an important legacy and tradition of the sport and what a crying shame that it wasn’t on there, that’s when it really began.

We flew up here and met a couple of months back and started trying to figure out a way to do it. And when came up there, it created interest some several different promoters, and so we started negotiating with two separate promoters, and both of them are outstanding type of promoters you want to deal with. And when we finally chose the direction we wanted to go, it just made all the sense in the world. We are very optimistic about Milwaukee. We think it’s going to be a great event.

THE MODERATOR: Randy, thank you very much for joining us today. We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule; you are quite the globetrotter these days, and we appreciate your time.

RANDY BERNARD: Thank you.

- FastScripts by ASAP Sports … / Indy Racing League Press Release

Panther Racing

Entering the weekend ninth in points, Wheldon looks to advance up the standings on a track where he qualified ninth and finished seventh in his first career start at the track in 2008 with Chip Ganassi Racing. He overcame a crash in practice last season in his first start at Edmonton with Panther and advanced seven positions during the race and finished in the 15th position. Panther competed with Vitor Meira in Edmonton in 2008, when the Brazilian driver had an issue with his steering and hit the tire barriers during the race before finishing in the 19th position.

Dan Wheldon

This weekend’s race on Edmonton’s 14-turn, 1.96-mile airport circuit will the Panther’s 11th start of the season, and the team has earned one Top Five and four Top Ten finishes on non-oval circuits this year.

The Honda Indy Edmonton will be broadcast live on VERSUS at 5:00 p.m. (ET) with additional coverage provided by the IMS Radio Network, www.indycar.com, XM Channel 145 and Sirius channel 211.

Dan Wheldon, No. 4 National Guard Dallara Honda

“Edmonton always bodes for great racing, and the fans here in Canada do an unbelievable job supporting the IZOD IndyCar Series. It’s always fun to race in front of fans who are so passionate. From a driver and engineering standpoint it’s an incredibly tough track, but one that I like very much.

The National Guard Panther Racing boys have done an unbelievable job each of the past two weekends and we’ve had to work incredibly hard to put ourselves into a position like we have. We’re looking to break the No. 4 National Guard car into victory lane this season, and we’re confident we’re going to have a good weekend in Edmonton.”

- Panther Racing Press Release

Newman / Haas Racing

Honda Indy Edmonton – W, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

FAST FACTS - Round 11 of 17 in the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series