IRL sees significance of selling product to U.S. market

Scott Dixon, the reigning IndyCar Series champion, hails from Auckland, New Zealand. Based in Indianapolis, but with its drivers spanning the globe, the IndyCar series is faced with a quandary.

With the vast majority of races contested in America, are prominent American drivers -- in contention for wins and in league promotion efforts -- important?

Fourteen of this year's 17 races are contested in the U.S., with two in Canada and one in Japan.

"Open-wheel racing has been more of an international series in the U.S. as compared to say NASCAR," said Scott Dixon, reigning IndyCar champion and native of Auckland, New Zealand. "Just look at the entry list for Richmond, and you can take out a map and see where all the different drivers come from. It's pretty cool. It's great to have American drivers, as this is an American-based series, but the diversity in drivers, types of tracks and so on is what gives this series its identity, I think.

"Of course we need to do everything in our power to promote New Zealand . . . that's what we're all here for. Just kidding."

All joking aside, the consensus ranged from very important to, well, if you've got it, flaunt it.

"That's an interesting question. When I was in Indy [this year's Indianapolis 500], they introduced me, and it was the biggest ovation I ever received," said Helio Castroneves. "I'm a Brazilian, and to me that shows people care about the person, the driver, no matter what.

"Open-wheel racing was always an international series. In America, there's a lot of international people, too. You can select from a lot of drivers and become a fan of somebody. You have a lot of choice . . . that's the beauty of it."

Florida native Ryan Hunter-Reay, recently transferred from Vision Racing to A.J. Foyt Racing for the rest of the season, said the Stars and Stripes matter.

"It's an American-based series," he said. "It just comes natural they would want American drivers in the hunt for the win. It's just like baseball. If you had all South Americans in there and no Americans, it might not appeal to the average American fan. You need a mix."

Graham Rahal, son of legendary driver Bobby Rahal and a native of New Albany, Ohio, echoed Hunter-Reay's thoughts.

"I think it's obviously important to promote American drivers," he said. "We want to be international, yes, but first you have to capture the American audience. I don't think in the past they've done a very good job with that, but now things are getting better. You have ad campaigns -- Marco [Andretti] or myself, Danica [Patrick], Ed [Carpenter] and now Ryan has been there."

Terry Angstadt is the Indy Racing League's president, commercial division, and thus in charge of the league's marketing and public relations efforts.

"Promoting American drivers, it's very important," he said. "Counterpoint to that is diversity. And when we say diversity, we don't mean gender. We started three females [Danica Patrick, Sarah Fisher and Milka Duno] at the Indy 500. We really embrace diversity, not only male/female, but it's the international mix of our drivers.

"When we get a 7 [television] rating for the 500 in Brazil, and it peaks at 10 with Castroneves, [Tony] Kanaan and Rafa Matos carrying the Brazilian flag, we love that," Angstadt said. "It's very important to have good, recognizable American drivers. But it's also important to promote the Kanaans [Brazil] and Wheldons [Dan Wheldon, England] of the world."

Contact Shawn Fenner at (804) 649-6412 or .