Further growth for 2002 IRNLS.

The 2002 Indy Racing Northern Light Series will increase to 14 races with the addition of ex-CART venues Nazareth and Michigan and the disappearance of Atlanta as the oval-based series plans to go one better than 2001.

This year's 13-race Indy Racing Northern Light Series has been the longest, toughest season to date for the six-year-old series taking in a number of brand new venues and racing on a variety of different circuits from the three-quarter mile Richmond International Raceway to the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway and a whole lot in between. Next year there will be even more variety added with the addition of two new races at Nazareth and Michigan to bring the total number of races next year to 14.

Gone from the 2001 schedule is the Atlanta Motor Speedway, scene of the year's biggest pile-up anywhere in auto-racing and the departure of the 1.5-mile venue is a dramatic comedown from 2000 when the circuit hosted two events. Texas Motor Speedway however, remains fixed on the calendar with two races despite recent criticisms of the speeds seen at the steeply banked 1.5-mile quad-oval after Davey Hamilton's and Robby McGehee's Casino Magic 500 injuries.

The decision to increase the schedule to 13 races in 2001 was met with cautious optimism from the IRNLS teams who had to find extra sponsorship and increase budgets in order to fund the season. Already the series has experienced a significant drop in entries with just 20 cars starting the last two events at Pikes Peak and Richmond and several stalwart teams have already bitten the bullet due to lack of financing.

The 2002 Indy Racing season will mark the seventh season of competition for the Indianapolis-based sanctioning body and will represent its largest schedule of events.
Homestead-Miami Speedway will play host to the first event of the 2002 season on Saturday, March 2. The season will end with the Chevy 500 on Sunday, Sept. 15, at Texas Motor Speedway.

"The diversity of the racetracks represented on the 2002 schedule will provide challenges to the teams and drivers, and the end result will be something racing fans will enjoy," said Tony George, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League. "From the 1.5-mile, high-banked Texas Motor Speedway to the facility here at Richmond (International Raceway) to Indianapolis, the teams will be tested on all types of ovals at first-class venues."

All 14 races will be televised live in the US and should also been seen live in the UK on Sky Sports after the channel's dedicated coverage this year, with 10 races on ABC and four races on ESPN. All three of the night races in 2002 will be on ESPN.

Michigan International Speedway and Nazareth Speedway will both play host to inaugural Indy Racing events in 2002. Nazareth Speedway on Sunday, April 21, will be the last event before the series returns to Indianapolis for the month of May for the 86th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 26. The inaugural Indy Racing event at Michigan International Speedway will be July 28.

"A great deal of effort goes into producing a schedule of this magnitude," said Bob Reif, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy Racing League. "We receive great support from our partners at ABC and ESPN, but I especially want to thank the series' track operators for the commitment they've made in producing this 2002 schedule."

The schedule includes four back-to-back racing weekends, including the traditional June events at Texas Motor Speedway (June 8) and Pikes Peak International Raceway (June 16).

"The 2002 schedule of events will be great for our fans and represents the controlled growth the League desires," said Brian Barnhart, Indy Racing League vice president of operations. "There will be 14 events in a period of just a little over six months. That will allow the teams and drivers to find a rhythm and also maintain the fans' interest. I'm ready to go."

2002 INDY RACING NORTHERN LIGHT SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Track
March 2 Homestead-Miami Speedway
March 17 Phoenix International Raceway
April 21 Nazareth Speedway
May 26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
June 8* Texas Motor Speedway
June 16 Pikes Peak International Raceway
June 29* Richmond International Raceway
July 7 Kansas Speedway
July 20* Nashville Superspeedway
July 28 Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 11 Kentucky Speedway
Aug. 25 Gateway International Raceway
Sept. 8 Chicagoland Speedway
Sept. 15 Texas Motor Speedway

* -- Night race