Patricio O’Ward, the reigning Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires champion who’s making the full-time move to the IndyCar Series in 2019, was among four Mexican drivers named Wednesday to compete in the Race Of Champions all-star event slated for Mexico City in January.
O’Ward was named along with NASCAR’s Daniel Suarez, sports car driver Memo Rojas and rally driver Benito Guerra to compete in the event that pits drivers from various global motorsports disciplines in identically prepared machines, where they compete side by side on a two-lane track.
A host of Indy car drivers have competed in past Race Of Champions events, including Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe, Helio Castroneves, Alexander Rossi, Tony Kanaan, Josef Newgarden, Juan Pablo Montoya and more.
The ROC has taken place at highlight venues around the globe since 1988, but this marks the first time it will be held in Mexico. The site for the Jan. 19-20 festivities is the Foro Sol, the former baseball stadium turned amphitheater located inside the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course that once hosted Indy car races and is now home to the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix.
The competition starts with the Nations Cup, where drivers from the same country or region team up to race for national bragging rights. The second day consists of individual competition to determine the Champion of Champions.
Formula One drivers Sebastian Vettel and David Coulthard (retired) were previously announced to compete in Mexico City. Additional drivers, including some expected from INDYCAR, will be announced soon.
Rock band Foreigner to headline Miller Lite Carb Day Concert in May
Foreigner, one of the biggest-selling bands in history and creator of some of rock’s most enduring hits, will headline the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert on Friday, May 24, 2019, to conclude one of the most exciting days in the month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The concert starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on the Miller Lite stage inside Turn 4 of the IMS oval. It will mark the climax of a full day of activities that includes the final IndyCar Series practice prior for the 103rd Indianapolis 500, the Freedom 100 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires race and the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge.
“Foreigner is one of the most legendary rock bands of all time, with hits loved by millions of fans worldwide,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “The band’s energetic show, featuring all their sing-along classics, will be a perfect ending to one of the best days of the year at IMS. With this great concert and a full schedule of on track activity, Miller Lite Carb Day again will shift race weekend into high gear.”
Tickets are on sale now at IMS.com, by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700, or by visiting the IMS ticket office at the IMS administration building, 4790 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222. General admission prices start at $30. Special concert pit access also is available for an additional $20, and a limited number of VIP deck tickets are available for $250. All general admission and VIP deck tickets include admission to the concert and all on-track activities that day at IMS.
With 10 multi-platinum albums and 16 top-30 hits, Foreigner is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world with a formidable musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales, which now exceed 75 million.
For more than 40 years, the band has produced some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems, including “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold as Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Say You Will,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Long, Long Way from Home” and the worldwide No. 1 hit, “I Want to Know What Love Is.” An opening act for the Miller Lite Carb Day concert will be named in the coming weeks.
Tickets for all May activities at IMS – including the INDYCAR Grand Prix on May 11 and the Indy 500 on May 26 – are on sale at IMS.com or by calling or visiting the IMS ticket office.
Tickets on sale now for 2019 Circuit of the Americas race
Tickets for the first IndyCar Series race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, scheduled for March 22-24, 2019, went on sale today. The race will be the second of 17 on the 2019 IndyCar Series schedule.
Prices range from $85 for a three-day general admission pass, to $119 for premium grandstands or Turn 12 bleachers, to $189 for a flex pass that allows purchasers to choose a different premium grandstand to sit in each day. All three-day tickets include admission to the Muse concert scheduled for Saturday, March 23 at the Super Stage located inside the racetrack.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit circuitoftheamericas.com/indy.
Grand Prix of Portland ticket renewals available
The ticket renewal window for the Grand Prix of Portland is open for those who purchased three-day grandstand seats for this year’s event to keep or upgrade their location for the 2019 race weekend, set for Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Portland International Raceway.
Renewals can be made at portlandgp.com through 9 p.m. ET Monday, Dec. 10. General public sales begin at 1 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 13. Ticket prices remain unchanged from this year.
Takuma Sato won this year’s Grand Prix of Portland, which marked the first Indy car race at the track in 11 years.
Fans renewing tickets have the first opportunity to enhance their event experience by purchasing parking, pit passes and RV club spaces that are limited in quantity. Additionally, the first opportunity to enroll in the Champions Club, which offers unprecedented access and exclusive benefits for just $75, is open exclusively to those renewing three-day grandstand seats during the renewal period. Champions Club members receive a personalized event credential, a complimentary IndyCar Series paddock pass, access to the prerace grid walk on pit lane and more.
"The Grand Prix of Portland got off to a fantastic start in our relaunch of this event. What an awesome show of support by our spectators, partners and the City of Portland,” said Jerry Jensen, general manager of Grand Prix of Portland. “Now is the time for our most enthusiastic fans and festival-goers to secure their preferred location for the 2019 event. From what we learned this year, our Green Savoree Racing Promotions team is working closely with the dedicated staff at PIR to make additional event enhancements for an even bigger and better festival experience next year."
During the renewal period, ticket sales are open only to those who purchased three-day grandstand seats for the 2018 event in order to renew or upgrade their location. Pricing starts at $85 for Bronze-level three-day grandstand seating, $95 for Silver and $165 for Gold, which includes a paddock pass. For complete ticket pricing and festival information, visit portlandgp.com.
INDYCAR, IMS merchandise end of season sale Saturday
Race fans can shift their holiday shopping into top gear at the 2018 end of season sale on Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with great deals available on a wide variety of IMS and INDYCAR apparel, collectibles and more.
The sale features the lowest prices of the season and is open to the public from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET on the fourth floor of the IMS media center. Customers should enter the track through Gate 2 on 16th Street and follow signs and directions to the media center.
Fans also are encouraged to participate in an American Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. during the sale on the third floor of the media center. All donors will receive an autographed James Hinchcliffe hero card and a $5 coupon to be used at the IMS Museum gift shop. Call 800-REDCROSS or visit redcrossblood.org to schedule a donation during the blood drive, using the sponsor code “hinchcliffehundred.”