Corning, N.Y.'s The Leader reports that Watkins Glen International president Michael Printup and IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard have been discussing a potential return of the IZOD IndyCar Series race at the upstate New York road course, which ran from 2005-'10. While popular with the drivers and teams, the event was dropped by the International Speedway Corporation track for lack of attendance and the price of IndyCar's sanctioning fee. For its part, IndyCar was dissatisfied with ISC's promotion of its races there.
“I would love to have them back, that one's harder than the [NASCAR] trucks, but that's what the fans are asking us,” Printup told The Leader. “I still think it's a great product.”
Printup indicated both the track and IndyCar were exploring compromises in order to reach a deal.
“They're definitely going to change some of it and kudos to them – they're willing to work on a deal," he said. "I told them it was too late for 2012, because these things take more than a year to plan. I just said, 'Whatever we can work on. The model is up for negotiations.' They would like to sit down and consider anything that's brought to the table. Before, you didn't get that kind of reaction.”