Another Week Off

With this being the middle of the second consecutive week off for IndyCar, we take a look at what else has been going on in and around IndyCar.

MotoGP Is Coming
After the United States Grand Prix three weeks ago, MotoGP heads to Indianapolis for the fifth running of the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The big news heading into this weekend is Valentino Rossi's return to Yamaha for 2013. After two seasons at Ducati, The Doctor heads back to the Japanese manufacture where he won four world championships. Rossi won the inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix in 2008 for Yamaha and Jorge Lorenzo followed that up by winning in 2009. The last two races at the Speedway have been won by Honda with Dani Pedrosa's victory in 2010 and Casey Stoner in 2011. The Americans have done well at the Speedway. Nicky Hayden has finishes of fifth, third, sixth and fourteenth. Ben Spies has finished sixth, second and third in three races and scored his lone career MotoGP pole at the Speedway in 2010 for Tech3 Yamaha.

At Laguna Seca, Stoner beat the Spaniards Lorenzo and Pedrosa with the Tech3 bikes of Dovizioso and Crutchlow taking fourth and fifth. Hayden finished sixth with Rossi retiring from the race. Spies fell out of the race from fourth position and had an accident during qualifying the day prior.

2013 Schedule
Back to a familiar topic and that's scheduling. Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star reported interest in NOLA Motorsports Park just outside New Orleans. The track is hosting the final weekend of the AMA Pro Racing season on October 5-7. The project is planned to build a 5.5 mile full course that can be split into two smaller north and south tracks. Currently the 2.75 mile north course is complete. Reportedly, IndyCar is interested in a spring race that would capitalize off the Super Bowl crowd, which the city of New Orleans will host February 3, 2013.

Talks are continuing between Pocono Raceway and Michigan International Speedway as a financial agreement that would benefit both sides is the main talking point. The following races have contracts for 2013: Indianapolis, Houston, Milwaukee, Detroit, St. Pete, Sao Paulo, Toronto, Edmonton and Long Beach.

Veach Tests Andretti's Lights
Zach Veach tested Andretti Autosports Indy Lights car at Putnam Park yesterday, August 13th. Veach is currently tenth in the Star Mazda Championship standings with five races remaining. He has two podiums, a second at Toronto and a third at Indianapolis Raceway Park. His teammate in Star Mazda for Andretti Autosport is Sage Karam. Karam is second in the Star Mazda Championship standings with two wins and a total of eight podiums.