IndyCar 2019 Schedule: Fans And Drivers React To COTA Addition

The IndyCar Series announced its 2019 race schedule and there was an immediate uproar from the fans of the American racing series. They was an instant buzz and excitement among not only the supporters but also few of the drivers that take part in the IndyCar Series.

The reason — the new schedule for 2019 included a race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, considered the best road course in the United States. The race track also plays host to Formula 1, Moto GP and the Pirelli World Series.

The COTA is considered among many as one of the best tracks in motorsport with F1 star Max Verstappen recently calling the track in Austin one of his favorites on the calendar — not just for the venue but for the challenge it poses for the drivers.

The circuit was designed taking some the best corners from tracks all around the world and IndyCar’s arrival to Austin has been met with tremendous support. And Mark Miles, president and CEO of Hulman & Co, which owns IndyCar praised the circuit and is happy to indulge the huge following for the series in Texas.

“COTA is one of the finest motorsports facilities in the world and Austin is a happening city. This a natural fit for the IndyCar Series,” Miles said, as per IndyCar’s official site. “Indy car racing has a large and passionate fan base in Texas with a hunger to attend more races. This added date will allow us to deliver both oval and road course events to the state in a single season.”

The Circuit of the Americas, which opened permanently in 2011, is more than three miles, and will be the second longest circuit on the 2019 race schedule only behind Road America, which is just over four miles. The founder and chairman of the circuit Bobby Epstein was delighted at being able to join the IndyCar calendar and is confident Austin will give a warm welcome to all the teams and drivers.

The race at COTA will be the second race on the calendar in 2019 and take place on March 24, just 14 days after the opening race of the 2019 season on the streets of St Petersburg, Florida. The 2016 Indy500 winner, Alexander Rossi, was one of the first to react to the news of COTA being introduced into the race calendar.

The 26-year-old has driven competitively on this track previously, but that was during his short stint in Formula 1. At that time, he was the only American driver on the track and he is glad this time around that will not be the case.

“Very happy to see the best open wheel series will be headed to the best road course...and also very happy I won’t be the ONLY American driver there this time,” Rossi wrote on his official Twitter account.

Rossi was not the only driver to react as Scott Dixon also welcomed the addition of the road course, while the IndyCar official Twitter account also showed their excitement and asked fans to send in their reaction through a GIF.