Terry Angstadt, president of the Indy Racing League's commercial division, told The Associated Press on Sunday that there have been discussions among series officials about adding future races in Brazil and China.
In fact, series officials have already visited both countries to look at potential sites.
Racing in Brazil makes sense from an economic standpoint for the series because it is the home nation of APEX-Brasil, an Ethanol company that provides the fuel for IndyCars.
It would also give the series an opportunity to cash in on the popularity of the sport in Brazil. All five Brazilian drivers listed on the entry sheet have already qualified for the May 24 Indianapolis 500, including pole-winner Helio Castroneves. In Brazil, the races have television ratings in the 4s and 5s, Angstadt said.
That could make Brazil a logical race host even though this year's 17-race schedule already includes two July stops in Canada and a September trip to Motegi, Japan and few breaks from late May until after the Aug. 29 race in Chicago.
But Angstadt already has a solution.
"If we did that (Brazil), we would probably start our season there because we think we start too late as it is," Angstadt said. "So we'd be looking at a March date or two and start in Brazil."
This year's season-opener was April 5 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Series officials have visited two or three Brazilian sites, but have not named the cities.
China is another potential venue. Like Brazil, it is an emerging economic market, and China has the world's largest population at 1.3 billion.
Series officials believe opening that market could lead to new sponsorship deals, increase the fan base and, yes, even host a race.
Angstadt cautioned that discussions are early but said he returned Thursday from a three-day visit to look at Qingdao, China, the city that hosted the Beijing Olympics sailing competition.
There's another logical reason for considering China.
"We would button that race onto Motegi, which would make it a two-hour trip rather than a 15-hour trip," Angstadt said. "One is much more advanced (in discussions) than the other."
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NOT SO PERFECT: Indy 500 pole-winner Helio Castroneves ran into trouble during Sunday's practice.
One day after thriving in the gusty winds on Indy's historic 2.5-mile oval and posting a four-lap average of 224.864 mph, the two-time race winner wanted to start working on his race set-up.
Instead, he was derailed when the car began leaking fluid after two laps.
The problem? Honda officials said there was a missing engine line in the No. 3T car and recommended Penske Racing replace the engine.
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SUCCESS, FINALLY: Scott Sharp had one heck of a weekend.
He crashed in practice Friday, didn't make a qualifying attempt Saturday and then withdrew his first four-lap average Sunday. Then, with the final gun about to sound for Sunday's qualifications, there were still three drivers in line ahead of him. IndyCar president Brian Barnhart asked them to give Sharp a chance.
Sharp responded by posting an average speed of 222.162 to qualify 20th and bump E.J. Viso from the field.
Then came the real question.
Sharp's 10-year-old son, Jackson, asked Sharp what the team had changed between qualifying attempts.
"Why did you ask me that?" Sharp shot back.
Sharp's son answered: "Because you never tell me these things."
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OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Want to own a stake in a race team? All it costs is $199.
iTeam Sports launched its new venture Sunday, patterning with HVM Racing, the team owned by Keith Wiggins.
Buyers will have access to owner's forums, elite social networks and will have select voting rights through an online site. Two minor-league baseball teams in Texas have already joined the club, and iTeam Sports plans to hook up with a couple of drag racing teams and perhaps a NASCAR team in the future.
Ten percent of the money collected goes to charitable organizations, 20 percent goes to operations and the remaining 70 percent will be pooled and distributed to the team in exchange for one voting share.
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SPARK PLUGS: Sarah Fisher's mother, Reba, waved the green flag to begin qualifying Sunday, then watched her daughter qualify 21st, the outside of Row 7, on her second qualifying attempt with a four-lap average of 222.082 mph. ... If Fisher is not bumped from the 33-car field next weekend, she will break a tie with Lyn St. James for most Indy starts by a woman (seven). ... Ed Carpenter's wife, Heather, waved the green flag for his qualifying run, too. Heater Carpenter is expecting the couple's second child later this summer. Carpenter will start 17th, the middle of Row 5, after going 222.780. ... Brazil's Raphael Matos is the fastest rookie in the provisional field, qualifying 12th, the outside of Row 4, with an average speed of 223.429.
