Atlanta given 13th place on 2001 IRNLS calendar.

With much discussion surrounding CART's expansion into Europe next year and its own 22 race schedule, the fact that the rival Indy Racing Northern Light Series is also planning to embark on its biggest ever season at the same time has almost gone unnoticed.

The IRNLS may not be moving outside of the United States next year, nor will it be promoting a schedule more akin to the Winston Cup than Indy Racing, but it is taking a major step nonetheless.

For the first time in its brief six-year history, the series has a stable foundation and its popularity is ever increasing. The standards of driving on the track are increasing and the competition is becoming more and more intense. Ever since current series sponsors Northern Light have come on board the series has grown in professionalism both on and off the track and more money is becoming available to the teams currently competing.

The 2001 season promises to be the most competitive in series history with more and more teams competing and more potential winners emerging. Sunday's inaugural Belterra Resort 300 was a prime example of the direction in which the series is heading.

Taking place in front of a near capacity crowd the racing was close and clean with a number of eleven drivers leading during the 200 laps leaving the crowd on their toes almost all the way.

However this year's compact nine race schedule is a clear indicator that spectacular racing is not a guaranteed route to a healthy series and right up until the eve of the first race of the 2000 season at Walt Disney World, the series was without a title sponsor and relations were far from warm with the previous backer. However Northern Light stepped in and renamed the former Indy Racing League into the current Indy Racing Northern Light Series.

With Indy legend Al Unser Jr joining the series from the rival CART Championship and the all-conquering Chip Ganassi outfit contesting the blue riband Indianapolis 500, the series began to gain momentum for the first time. By the end of July Northern Light were ready to announce a completely revamped 12 race 2001 calendar which would add extra pressure to the teams, drivers and sponsors alike.

Gone are the unsuccessful ventures at places such as Dover and Walt Disney World that were replaced by new venues such as Kentucky and Kansas. A 13th race was added last week at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the 1.5-mile oval that played host to the seventh round of the series this year.

Situated in firm NASCAR territory, the IRNLS struggled to make an impression on its first trip to Georgia in 1998 and the future of the race was initially in doubt. However the attendance figures have gradually risen at the circuit and an estimated 50,000 people watched Greg Ray dominate this years event.

The news that Atlanta will play host to its fourth IRNLS event is a good indication of the direction in which the series is going. The team owners and drivers believe the series is strong enough to hold a 13-race calendar and that the money and stability is now in place to allow the Championship to grow and grow.