THE 2014 INDY LIGHTS SERIES a New Beginning
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THE 2014 INDY LIGHTS SERIES A New Beginning On July 12, 2013 it was announced that Andersen Promotions, LLC would take control of the Indy Lights series beginning in 2014, while still operating under INDYCAR sanction. Andersen Promotions has a long history of successful operations in junior formula car motorsports. Andersen Promotions currently operates the USF2000 and Pro Mazda championships, representing the first two steps in INDYCAR’s official driver development system, the Mazda Road to Indy. In addition, the company has also been involved in team ownership at the Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and karting levels. The mission is clear: Rebuild, Rebrand and Re-buzz the Indy Lights series through a dedicated focus on increasing the value proposition for teams and drivers. We will accomplish this through the following: • A new promoter • A new race car • A new engine partner • A new tire partner • A new promotional effort • A new incentive program Series Goals Andersen Promotions has outlined specific goals to stimulate growth and increase the value of the Indy Lights series. 1. Introduction of an enhanced car in 2014 with a brand new car debuting in 2015, including new tire, chassis and engine formula 2. Creation of participation incentives for new and current teams 3. Provide cost-effective platform for teams, drivers and partners to participate in 4. Development of new marketing and promotional campaign, including launch of IndyLights.com and comprehensive worldwide driver recruitment effort 5. Introduction of double-header race weekends on all permanent road courses, providing drivers with maximum seat-time and benefits Why Indy Lights? The Indy Lights series represents the final step on the Mazda Road to Indy and the final training ground for drivers before advancing to the IZOD IndyCar Series. • Series champion receives a scholarship to graduate to the IndyCar Series • IndyCar Series testing opportunities for Indy Lights drivers • Drivers and teams compete for prizes valued at $1.6 million • Compete on the same tracks and on the same weekends as the IndyCar Series • Compete at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as part of Indianapolis 500 weekend • Unparalleled access to IndyCar Series owners, teams and drivers About the Mazda Road to Indy The Mazda Road to Indy is the official driver development program of INDYCAR and features a clear, defined path for drivers, teams and sponsors to advance to the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500. • Drivers follow series path of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights on way to IndyCar Series • Scholarships totaling over $2 million available for series champions to advance throughout the system • Compete on the same tracks and on the same weekends as the IndyCar Series • Drivers take part in comprehensive off-track business training program, the Mazda Road to Indy Summit • Unparalleled access to IndyCar Series owners, teams and drivers Demographics 26% $ $100,000+ $61,000 53.8% Household Income Average HHI At-Least Some College Key TV Markets* . Indianapolis . Chicago . Milwaukee 22% 38% 24% . Dayton 16% . Columbus . Cincinnati . Louisville . Nashville . Detroit The Car Tires: Indy Lights will feature Cooper Tires for the 2014 season and beyond. Teams will see a significant reduction in per set pricing over the 2013 season and the series and its participants will benefit from new commercial activation Chassis: The current Dallara chassis will continue being used for the 2014 season with new dampers in place Engine: The current engine will again be utilized in 2014 with a new engine being introduced for the 2015 season. Updates on the 2015 engine will be available in the coming weeks. Fuel: As part of our ongoing partnership with Sunoco, the 260 GTX fuel will continue to be utilized in the car in 2014. Television The Indy Lights series will continue its television partnership with NBC Sports Network in the U.S. Important elements of this package include: • Events shown live or live to tape (same day coverage) • Indy Lights television window will be aired as part of the INDYCAR block on NBCSN • One car receives in-car camera for each event; additional cameras available for purchase • Complete race coverage, including pre and post race features and interviews • Indy Lights television ratings have grown over 100% from 2012 to 2013 ESPN International will provide international television rights for the series 2014 Schedule The 2014 Indy Lights schedule will feature 14 races on 10 event weekends. All events are in support of the IndyCar Series and will feature three street circuits, four road courses and three ovals. Round 1 March 30 Streets of St. Petersburg Round 2 April 13 Streets of Long Beach Rounds 3 & 4 April 26/27 Barber Motorsports Park Rounds 5 & 6 May 9/10 Indianapolis Motor Speedway RC Round 7 May 23 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval Round 8 July 6 Pocono Raceway Round 9 July 20 Streets of Toronto Rounds 10 & 11 August 2/3 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Round 12 August 17 Milwaukee Mile Rounds 13 & 14 August 23/24 Sonoma Raceway INDYCAR Incentive Program An INDYCAR incentive program has been launched aimed at providing Indy Lights drivers with IndyCar Series testing opportunities. The IndyCar Series will offer two additional test days to its teams if the team utilizes a current Indy Lights driver in the car for those tests. Introducing IndyLights.com Andersen Promotions has launched a brand new Indy Lights website, dedicated to covering all aspects of the series • Exclusive coverage of all Indy Lights event weekends • Series news and press releases • Team/driver news and press releases • Live timing and scoring • Photo and video archives • Statistics Next Stop…IndyCar Since the Mazda Road to Indy was created in 2010, over 30 drivers have advanced to the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 from Indy Lights. Notable graduates include: • Conor Daly • JR Hildebrand • James Hinchcliffe • Charlie Kimball Vautier Daly • Josef Newgarden • Sebastian Saavedra • Tristan Vautier *Over 100 drivers have graduated from Indy Lights to IndyCar since the series was founded in 1986 Hinchcliffe Newgarden Cost Analysis Series Budget Comparison The Facts: Cost per season • Season budget amounts: • Indy Lights: $750,000 $1,600,000 • GP3: $765,000 $1,400,000 • WSR: $1,000,000 • GP2: $1,450,000 $1,200,000 • Indy Lights offers the most cost- $1,000,000 effective budget of any $800,000 comparable junior formula series in the world $600,000 • Indy Lights features total prizes of $400,000 $1.6 million $200,000 • Series champion receives $500,000 $0 scholarship to advance to the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 What They’re Saying "It's great for our young drivers to get that kind of ladder, those kinds of steps," the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner said. "When you get to the big leagues you don't suffer as much trying to understand, and you can actually drive more comfortably. Every time you go into a place in different cars, it teaches so much. You can learn so much that it makes you not worry about the line, but what can you improve to go faster.“ – Helio Castroneves, 3-Time Indianapolis 500 Winner/Indy Lights Graduate John Surtees has called for a radical revamp of European open-wheel racing along the lines of IndyCar's Mazda Road to Indy to ensure that talent always triumphs over money on the way up to Formula 1. "What we need is a structure whereby you have success rewarded by the advancement of career. Where else other than in motorsport can you win one series and then be rewarded by a team at the next level telling you, 'That will be £550,000 [$885,000] for a season, please'? It's terrifying. We need a specified number of formulas laid down and recognized internationally so that if you win one, you get a scholarship to move into the next category, and keep that going all the way to Formula 1.“ – John Surtees, 1964 Formula 1 World Champion “You look at it as training drivers, but it’s important in training crews and it’s great for training new teams that maybe will be making the step up in the next few years.” - Michael Andretti, Owner, Andretti Autosport “This is one step below IndyCar. You race the same tracks on the same weekends so it was a very important step for me on the ladder to IndyCar. It’s a great series that’s very competitive and if you want to be in IndyCar, you have to be in Indy Lights.” – Tony Kanaan, 2013 Indianapolis 500 Winner and 1997 Indy Lights champion .