Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
(ST. LOUIS, MO) Gateway Motorsports Park took another leap forward in anticipation of the inaugural Verizon IndyCar Series event that will be held at its 1.25-mile oval later this summer.
The Madison, Illinois-based racing facility announced Thursday that St. Louis-based Bommarito Automotive Group would be the title sponsor of the 500-kilometer race scheduled for Saturday, August 26.
At a press event held at the St. Louis Auto Show at America’s Center Thursday evening, representatives from both parties were on hand to reveal the multi-year racing partnership and the official name of the event, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.
“No one knows our town better than the folks at Bommarito,” said Curtis Francois, Owner and CEO of Gateway Motorsports Park. “They are a progressive group, known for a high standard of quality and excellence. It’s the same standard of on-track action and family-friendly experience that we look forward to delivering with our landmark event.”
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
“When approached by Gateway about the return of IndyCar to St. Louis, we felt it was important to have a major St. Louis company step forward and support the return of open wheel racing to the region,” said John Bommarito, President of the Bommarito Automotive Group.
The 500-kilometer race, which converts to roughly 310 miles, will be event #15 of the Verizon IndyCar Series’ 17-event schedule that also includes the yearly Indianapolis 500. Alongside America’s top-flight, open-wheeled drivers, entrants will also hail from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Frenchman Simon Pagenaud begins the defense of his Verizon IndyCar Series championship with the franchises’ first race of the season, set for March 12 in St. Petersburg, FL.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
The August 27 Gateway event, projected to draw 40,000 spectators, will be held under the lights and is currently scheduled for an 8 p.m. green flag.
Gateway’s addition of IndyCar compliments its racing cache as the National Drag Racing Association, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the USAC Silver Crown Series already holds perennial events there.
IndyCar added Gateway to its 2017 schedule last August.
“The race puts St. Louis on the international stage and that’s especially good for our national image,” Francois said at the time.
Gateway officials anticipate a crowd of 40,000 for the race.
Tickets for the event are on sale at its official website.
