Andersen Promotions releases 2020 Road to Indy schedule - MotorSportsTalk

Andersen Promotions revealed the 2020 schedules for each of the Road to Indy developmental series Thursday, with all three levels of the ladder system (Indy Lights, Indy Pro 200 and USF2000) once again returning as support races during several prominent NTT IndyCar Series race weekends next year.

The three series combined will offer over $2.7 million in scholarships and awards to IndyCar hopefuls competing in the various stages of the Road to Indy system.

The Road to Indy program has been influential in helping several of IndyCar’s current stars reach the highest level of American open-wheel racing. 23 of the 33 starters in this year’s Indianapolis 500 were Road to Indy graduates, and a total of 26 graduates have competed in NTT IndyCar Series events this season.

In addition to the release of the 2020 series schedules, Anderson Promotions also confirmed Thursday that they will host the 9th annual Chris Griffis Memorial Test on October 19 and 20 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Competitors from all three developmental series will participate in the two-day session.

Here are the 2020 Road to Indy schedules:

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires

The 2020 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires schedule features 18 races at 10 venues, including the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 22. All races will air live exclusively on NBC Sports Gold.

March 14/15	Streets of St. Petersburg	1.8-mile street course*
April 4/5	Barber Motorsports Park	2.3-mile road course*
May 8/9	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	2.439-mile road course*
May 22	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	2.5-mile oval
June 20/21	Road America	4.014-mile road course*
July 11/12	Streets of Toronto	1.786-mile street course*
August 15/16	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	2.258-mile road course*
August 22	World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway	1.25-mile oval
September 5/6	Portland International Raceway	1.967-mile road course*
September 19/20	WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca	2.238-mile road course*

*Doubleheader weekend

In addition, the series will conduct five open test days: March 9 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (road course), May 7 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course), May 18 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval), August 12 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and August 20 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Indy Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires

The 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires schedule will feature 18 races at 10 venues, including a doubleheader weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 8 and 9.

March 14/15	Streets of St. Petersburg	1.8-mile street course*
April 25/26	Circuit of The Americas	3.41-mile road course*
May 8/9	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	2.439-mile road course*
May 22	Lucas Oil Raceway	.686-mile oval
June 20/21	Road America	4.014-mile road course*
July 11/12	Streets of Toronto	1.786-mile street course*
August 15/16	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	2.258-mile road course*
August 22	World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway	1.25-mile oval
September 5/6	Portland International Raceway	1.967-mile road course*
September 19/20	WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca	2.238-mile road course*

*Doubleheader weekend

The series will also conduct eight test days: March 7/8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (road course), April 23 at Circuit of the Americas, May 7 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course), May 11 at Lucas Oil Raceway, August 13 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, August 20 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, and September 3 at Portland International Raceway.

Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship

The 2020 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship schedule includes 18 races at nine venues, including a tripleheader weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 8 and 9.

March 14/15	Streets of St. Petersburg	1.8-mile street course*
April 25/26	Circuit of The Americas	3.41-mile road course*
May 8/9	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	2.439-mile road course**
May 22	Lucas Oil Raceway	.686-mile oval
June 20/21	Road America	4.014-mile road course*
July 11/12	Streets of Toronto	1.786-mile street course*
August 15/16	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	2.258-mile road course*
September 5/6	Portland International Raceway	1.967-mile road course*
September 19/20	WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca	2.238-mile road course*

*Doubleheader weekend

**Tripleheader weekend

The series will conduct seven test days: March 7/8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (road course), April 23 at Circuit of the Americas, May 7 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course), May 11 at Lucas Oil Raceway, August 13 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and September 3 at Portland International Raceway.

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Ryan Hunter-Reay was named to replace Conor Daly in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet, starting in the NTT IndyCar Series event next week at Road America.

Hunter-Reay is the 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner. He finished 11th for Dreyer & Reinbold last month in the 107th Indy 500, his first start since the 2021 season finale. He drove full time for Andretti Autosport from 2010-21.

“We need to improve our competitiveness and I wanted to add a fresh perspective from a driver like Ryan who has a massive amount of experience and success as well as a reputation as a team leader. I am excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” team owner Ed Carpenter said in a team release. “We have worked together in the past as teammates and he tested for ECR at Barber Motorsports Park in October 2021, where he made an immediate impact as we were able to qualify one of our cars on the pole following that test. I am confident that his experience and technical abilities will be an asset to ECR as we move forward toward our goals as a team.”

Hunter-Reay has 18 IndyCar victories, most recently in 2018. He also is a winner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having been a part of winning entries in the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring and 2018 Petit Le Mans. Last year, he was an endurance driver for Cadillac Racing while being on standby for Chip Ganassi Racing.

He replaces Daly, whose departure was announced a day earlier in what the driver and team said was a mutual decision.

“I was surprised when I got the call from Ed,” Hunter-Reay said in a team release. “He described how frustrated he was that his team has not been able to realize its potential despite their efforts, investments, as well as technical and personnel changes over the past few years and asked for my help. Ed and I are very close friends and have been for a long time. I’ve worked with the team in the past and they are a very talented group with high expectations and a committed partner in BITNILE.COM.

“This will certainly be a challenge for me as well. It’s a tough situation jumping in a car in the middle of the season without any testing in what I believe to be the most competitive series in the world. Certainly, part of my motivation in saying ‘yes’ to Ed is the great challenge ahead. The last time I turned right driving an NTT IndyCar Series car was in October of 2021 with this team at Barber. However, I remain very confident in both my driving and technical abilities and believe by working with the talented people at ECR and Team Chevy, while representing BITNILE.COM, we will make progress. I am going to do everything I can do to help the team achieve its long-term objectives.”

Said Milton “Todd” Ault, the chairman of sponsor BitNile.com: “It is great for BitNile.com to be aligned with an Indy 500 Winner and an NTT IndyCar Series champion. I have followed Ryan’s career for years and I am confident he will challenge the entire ECR team to perform at higher levels. I wish everyone luck at Road America.”