IndyCar Eyes Return to Historic Milwaukee Mile Track
IndyCar is looking into the possibility of restoring the renowned Milwaukee Mile Track to its circuit. After a year-long hiatus due to financial problems, if the Milwaukee Mile is reinstated into the IndyCar schedule it could replace the Chicagoland Speedway. This will be welcome news to the long-time fans of the track, especially IndyCar enthusiasts.
CEO Randy Bernard commented that, “I think that we have a tremendous fan base that feels like we left them behind, and I think that this is a step forward to make sure tradition stays a part of IndyCar. I want that event bad.”
The 106 year-old track has been home to consistent racing events since its commencement on 11 September, 1903, and is an icon of the American cultural landscape. Beginning with William Jones of Chicago, the track has become a staple of the racing tradition, featuring the achievements of Barney Oldfield, Rex Mays, Al Unser Jr., Paul Tracy, and several others. Until recently, the track has been home to the IndyCar Series, and has hosted Nascar, the Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series Race, the Wisconsin Grand Prix Double Regional, and the Millers at Milwaukee – Vintage IndyCar Event. The circuit is also home to the ASA Late Model Series, tire testing, driving school events, and more. The oldest continuously running race track in the United States, it is little surprise as to why supporters are keen to keep the tradition alive.
That is why Bernard is optimistic he can rally the support of the government to back the circuit’s IndyCar resurrection. “The state would like to help us," Bernard said. "The state's in a pickle in their own mind [...] so right now, we're trying to figure out how we make this event viable with what we have to work with. ISC [International Speedway Corp.] has their primary objectives and IndyCar has their primary objectives, and I'm not sure if we're all on the same page right now. But we still have a great relationship with ISC going forward, and we're still trying to figure out what that would be.” Bernard and Milwaukee’s supporters have a few short weeks to gather momentum; the 2011 IndyCar schedule is to be announced within the next few weeks.
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