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IndyCar set to return to Laguna Seca in 2019

ByAsher Fair|
Dan Wheldon of Great Britain driver of the #3 PPI Motorsports Swift 011c Toyota leads the field during the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) Toyota Formula Atlantic Championship Series Grand Prix of Monterey on 9 September 2000 at the Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California, United States. (Photo by Jon Ferrey/Getty Images)
Dan Wheldon of Great Britain driver of the #3 PPI Motorsports Swift 011c Toyota leads the field during the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) Toyota Formula Atlantic Championship Series Grand Prix of Monterey on 9 September 2000 at the Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California, United States. (Photo by Jon Ferrey/Getty Images)

Pending the anticipated approval of a contract, IndyCar is set to return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the 2019 season.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has not hosted an IndyCar race since it hosted its final CART race in the 2004 season. However, that is set to change in 2019.

Laguna Seca, which hosted one CART race each season from the 1983 season through the 2004 season, is set to return to the IndyCar schedule for the first time in 15 years next year pending the anticipated approval of a contract by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

Here is the announcement made by the track’s official Twitter account.

IndyCar’s return to the 11-turn, 2.238-mile (3.602-kilometer) Laguna Seca road course in Monterey, California will not be officially confirmed until this contract is approved, and the official announcement about the return is not scheduled to be made until 2:00 p.m. PT on Tuesday, July 17, as stated in the tweet made by the track’s Twitter account.

Here is what a statement provided by IndyCar said about the matter, according to Autoweek.

"“IndyCar and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca have reached an agreement to bring the Verizon IndyCar Series to Monterey, Calif., in 2019 at a date to be announced. This agreement is subject to approval by Monterey County’s Board of Supervisors, which is set to vote on the agenda item Tuesday. This would mark the return of Indy car racing to the peninsula for the first time in 15 years.”"

Here is what WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca CEO Tim McGrane had to say about the matter, according to SFGate.

"“It will be the Board of Supervisors’ decision, which we expect will be unanimous in favor. From the moment that IndyCar left here, there’s been a desire to get it back.“The date is still to be confirmed by IndyCar as they put their 2019 schedule together. We also have some major events going on and Monterey County will be involved. We have to sort out and get all those things aligned and that will happen once we have the formal approval.”"

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Since leaving the CART schedule following the 2004 season, the only IndyCar-related races held at Laguna Seca have been Indy Lights races. The track hosted two Indy Lights races in both the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

It is unknown whether or not the race at Laguna Seca will replace IndyCar’s current race at Sonoma Raceway, which has been held 14 times, including once in each of the last 13 seasons, and is scheduled to be held for a 15th time and for a 14th consecutive season this September. The race is set to serve as the IndyCar season finale for the fourth consecutive season.

However, it is overwhelmingly likely that the race at Laguna Seca will replace the race at the 12-turn, 2.385-mile (3.838-kilometer) Sonoma Raceway road course in Sonoma, California, which means it is overwhelmingly likely that the race at Sonoma Raceway will be completely removed from the IndyCar schedule once the 2018 season comes to a close.

Here is what Sonoma Raceway track president and general manager Steve Page had to say about the matter, according to IndyStar.

"“Sonoma Raceway has invested heavily to build IndyCar’s brand and following in Northern California for the past 14 years, and we would be happy to continue that effort, buy only under a sustainable business model.“If the series determines their long-term interests are better served by moving the Sonoma race to another venue, that is a business decision they are obviously entitled to make, and we will turn our attention to other opportunities.”"

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Are you excited to hear that IndyCar is set to return to Laguna Seca in the 2019 season? Do you believe that the event at the track will replace the current event at Sonoma Raceway, and if so, are you excited or disappointed by that news?