With the IZOD IndyCar Series at its penultimate round of the season, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard addressed some of the remaining lingering items beyond the on-track finish to this year Sunday morning in Baltimore.
Chief among the items noted was the goal to still have 19 races for 2013, set to be announced after a meeting of the board of directors on Sept. 20. Bernard said it will be 19 total races, not necessarily 19 separate weekends, leaving open the possibility of doubleheader races in 2013.
“It's not gonna happen (today),” Bernard joked given his initial goal of announcing the schedule on Sept. 1, before Baltimore and Fontana. “It's more important to get it right. I've scheduled the next board meeting for Sept. 20, which is the date for final approval. So at this point we have 18 days. I'm optimistic; I think we still need a minimum of 19 races, and that's still my goal. When I started rushing it, then that's when it goes off. We want one announcement.”
It's the intent, he said, to also have the 2013 season start earlier than the last weekend in March, with two possible options – either adding a race before St. Petersburg or moving up the St. Petersburg date. Some standing starts will happen in 2013 as well, he said.
He also confirmed the spare parts row that had gone on somewhat in the background the last two months is at an end, with a 20 percent reduction across the board. Dallara will still make all parts, thus ending the chances of teams being able to make their own.
“The cost reduction, we're there. It's a formality,” he said. “It will be a 20 percent reduction across the board. I want to thank everyone working together on it. Everything will be done through Dallara. You have to have a competitive balance. Not one of us knows how a spring or upright is different. Let's put it in the aero kits where there's a full shape difference.”