IndyCar Series

Milwaukee IndyFest Map and Schedule

Save the Mile Administrator
2012 Milwaukee IndyFest

With activities set to kick off on Friday, we want to make sure that you are "in the know" for Milwaukee IndyFest!  Download a PDF copy of the latest schedule and map of the Milwaukee Mile below!

Smash Mouth To Perform Post-Race Concert at Milwaukee IndyFest

Andretti Sports Marketing Wisconsin
The sweet sound of turbocharged IndyCar engines won't be the only music heard at the Milwaukee IndyFest, June 15-16. Smash Mouth, the California party band with multiple number one hits and 10 million albums sold, will headline the post-race concert in the infield of the Milwaukee Mile, Saturday, June 16. All ticket holders for Saturday's race are invited to attend the concert at the conclusion of the IndyFest 225 race for the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Smash Mouth has two number one hits in the U.S. - "Walkin' on the Sun" and "All Star" - in addition to a long list of rock radio staples such as their cover of the classic hit "I'm a Believer" that appeared on the soundtrack to the film Shrek. The 60s-influenced garage band represents the spirit of fun that is part of the each element of the Milwaukee IndyFest.

"When we play, it's a nonstop party," Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell said. "I can't imagine anything better than playing at a festival that includes Indy cars and a Milwaukee-style party. We're big race fans, and that just adds to our excitement for the event."

 IndyFest Battle of the Bands: Following a full day of on-track practice and qualifying sessions Friday, June 15, the IndyFest Battle of the Bands will take to the infield stage with some of the top up-and-coming area bands. The winning band - as decided by a panel of celebrity judges - will win cash, prizes and the honor of performing a pre-race concert Saturday morning before the IndyCar race. All Friday infield general admission tickets allow access to the stage for the battle. (Bands interested in participating in the Battle of the Bands can email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details.)

Tickets are on sale now for both days of the Milwaukee IndyFest, June 15 and 16. Friday infield general admission tickets begin at $17.50 for adults (Grandstand seating is free that day to watch practice and qualifying.). Tickets for Saturday's race and concert begin at $17.50 for infield general admission and $26 for reserved seating. The infield activities both days include the IndyFest Fan Village, Family Fun Zone, the Snake Pit (age-restricted access) as well as the concert activities.

For tickets and event information, go to: www.MilwaukeeIndyFest.com. You can also order tickets by phone at 414-266-7100 or at the Wisconsin State Fair Park box office. (Box office hours are 10 am - 4 pm, weekdays.) 

Milwaukee IndyFest Tickets Now on Sale

Andretti Sports Marketing
Milwaukee Mile - 2012 Milwaukee IndyFestMarcus Hotels and Resorts, DHL Sign as the First IndyFest Sponsors

Tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Milwaukee IndyFest, which will take place June 15 and 16 at the Milwaukee Mile at the Wisconsin State Fair Park. IndyFest will feature an IZOD IndyCar Series race Saturday afternoon as well as many other family-friendly activities, and is being promoted by Andretti Sports Marketing Wisconsin, an agency led by IndyCar team owner Michael Andretti. The ticket details for the Father’s Day weekend event were unveiled today in a news conference at the historic Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee.

Advanced purchase general admission/infield tickets begin at $17.50, with adult reserved seats for Saturday’s race starting at $19 in advance. Fans can watch Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions from the grandstands for free. Overall ticket prices represent a reduction of more than thirty percent compared to the previous IndyCar event at the Milwaukee Mile. Fans can order tickets online at the official event website www.MilwaukeeIndyFest.com, or they can contact the State Fair Park box office at (414) 266-7100. The box office hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and tomorrow, and 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. this Saturday. Normal box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Milwaukee Added as 16th Race

Save the Mile Administrator
Andretti Sports Marketing Wisconsin, led by INDYCAR team owner Michael Andretti, will promote the Milwaukee IndyFest at the Milwaukee Mile, June 15 and 16.
 
The Father’s Day weekend festival will be headlined Saturday afternoon by an internationally televised IZOD IndyCar race as well as a Firestone Indy Lights event. It will also include many other events designed to create a memorable family holiday weekend at the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds. 
 
“Andretti Sports Marketing is excited about promoting IndyFest at the Milwaukee Mile,” said Michael Andretti, CEO of Andretti Sports Marketing, LLC, and a racer who visited Milwaukee’s victory lane five times as a driver and three more times as a team owner. “It’s a historic track in a great city, and it’s a place that has always been a favorite for my family. But, more importantly, it’s an ideal track for Indy cars and always produces exciting racing for the fans.”
 
To lead the event, Kevin Healy has been named Managing Director of Milwaukee IndyFest. Healy is a 30-year veteran of the airline industry and most recently served as Sr. Vice President of Marketing and Planning for AirTran Airways, a long-time sponsor of Andretti Autosport IndyCar teams. The event allows him to combine his love of the Milwaukee community and motorsports. 

A Saturday afternoon for IndyCar at the Mile

Dave Kallmann of the Journal Sentinel
A Michael Andretti-backed group led by a former AirTran official will promote the return of IndyCar racing to the Milwaukee Mile this year.

Andretti Sports Management announced its entree into race promotion Friday, saying the race would be held on the Saturday of Father's Day weekend, June 16.

Kevin Healy, who was senior vice president of marketing and planning for AirTran, will serve as managing director of Milwaukee IndyFest.

The Friday-Saturday weekend is to include entertainment beyond the race itself on the grounds of State Fair Park.

“Andretti Sports Marketing is excited about promoting IndyFest at the Milwaukee Mile,” Michael Andretti, CEO of Andretti Sports Marketing, LLC, said in the announcement. “It’s a historic track in a great city, and it’s a place that has always been a favorite for my family. But, more importantly, it’s an ideal track for Indy cars and always produces exciting racing for the fans.”

Andretti won five times as a driver at the Mile and three as a team owner.

Update - IndyCar to Return in 2012 with Andretti Family Involvement?

Save the Mile Administrator
Dave Kallman of the Journal Sentinel is reporting this morning that Wisconsin State Fair Park was asked by the Izod IndyCar Series about track availability this upcoming June.  As the schedule stands right now, the only open weekend is once again Father's Day weekend.

In addition, it was reported by several  sources that new outside promoter was looking to operate the event.  WTMJ-TV 4 reported that the promoter group includes the lengendary Andretti family.

More details to follow as they become available!

IndyCar Series Still Possible in 2012?

Save the Mile Administrator
Despite published reports in recent months that the Izod IndyCar Series will not return, speculation continues to swirl that the series may return to the historic to the Milwaukee Mile to help round out a road course heavy schedule for 2012.  The latest speculation comes from Indy Star writer Curt Cavin:
 

Question: With IndyCar still optimistic in adding an oval race or two in 2012, what oval tracks (currently not on the schedule) have the best chance to be included for 2012. Thanks (Keats, Indianapolis)

Answer: Milwaukee is the only one I can imagine. All of the other tracks that have strong ownership groups/promoters have told me they want to wait to see how the new car performs on ovals in 2012 before the move forward with a race in 2013. Bottom line: IndyCar is a year away, if at all, with places like Phoenix, Michigan and others. As for Milwaukee, Randy Bernard has said he needs a title sponsor for IndyCar to promote the race itself. The second option, which now seems a go, is landing a promoter. We’ll see what RB says about that today when we talk, but I’m led to believe a possible promoter exists. If all the financial hurdles can be cleared, there figures to be two possible dates: July 1 or Sept. 30. I’d lean toward July 1, but RB has been adamant that he has a season-ending event. In my opinion, it’s best to end the season on an oval, but we’ll have to see if RB has something else in mind.

Bottom line, it's a stretch to see IndyCar returning to the Milwaukee Mile in 2012, but there's still some folks out there that believe that it's a possibility.  Stay tuned!

Message from AB Promotions about Milwaukee 225

Save the Mile Administrator
THANK YOU!

AB Promotions would like to thank all those who supported the Milwaukee 225. Presenting Seven Races in Two Days on Father's Day was a huge undertaking we hope that you, our fans, enjoyed and appreciated. It would not have been possible without the hard work of our devoted staff and volunteers.

We now look to build the event in 2012, a process that includes the renewal of commitments from our current sponsors. There was great racing at Wisconsin State Fair Park this weekend; we hope that it and the business community will consider truly supporting the Milwaukee 225 in the years ahead.

AB Promotions wants YOUR feedback! Tell them what you thought of the 2011 Milwaukee 225 race weekend:
http://www.milwaukeemile2011.com/Milwaukee_Mile_2011_Comments.html


Franchitti wins Milwaukee 225 as rivals falter

Dave Kallmann of the Journal Sentinel

Dario Franchitti celebrates in victory lane after winning the Milwaukee 225 on Sunday in the return of IndyCar racing to the Milwaukee Mile after a one-year absence.


West Allis - Ultimately the problem took care of itself Sunday, not that it mattered to Dario Franchitti.

He was perfectly happy to try to win the Milwaukee 225 outright, to run down Helio Castroneves and pass him wheel-to-wheel if that's what it took.

Instead the race fell back into Franchitti's lap. That happens.

"I was still so spitting mad from what Helio did on that restart, I was doing all I could to get up to him and past Tony (Kanaan) as well," Franchitti said after scoring his second IndyCar Series victory at the Milwaukee Mile.

What Castroneves had done, in Franchitti's mind, was throw a block on a Lap 176 restart that would make the Green Bay Packers' offensive line proud.

But a flat tire cost Castroneves his lead and a rare mistake doomed Kanaan, and suddenly the race was back in the hands of Franchitti, who had set the pace for most of the day.

"Anyway, just a great job by the Target team again, in the pits, and with the strategy, and you know, just typical Milwaukee though, working on traffic all day," Franchitti said.

"Great to be racing back here at Milwaukee Mile."

Read Entire Story on JSOnline

Small crowd leaves future uncertain for Milwaukee 225

Dave Kallmann of the Journal Sentinel
Promoters hopeful, but 'it’s got to make sense'

West Allis - IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said a 2012 Milwaukee 225 is a 50-50 proposition after a crowd of no more than 15,000 came out to the Milwaukee Mile on Sunday.

The race's fate could be decided as early as this week.

Chris McGrath, whose promotion group brought the series back after a one-year absence, said his team would go over the financial data from the weekend and then meet with Bernard to discuss the future.

The venue can hold about 40,000 people.

"Now we have something to build on, and the reaction initially from the fans is we had an excellent race and I hope they go home and bring somebody back with them next year," McGrath said. "(But) it's got to makes sense."

Among the obstacles promoters faced were a short time for marketing after the announcement of the race in September, ill will within the business community related to dealings with previous promoters, the loss of momentum from no 2010 race and then a rainstorm Sunday morning.

Bernard said he'd like to see Milwaukee remain on the schedule, particularly because the drivers and owners love the racetrack and because of its history and tradition.

It's also possible, though, that the series will go back to Joliet, Ill., at the request of title sponsor IZOD.

"Is there enough room for this event and Chicago?" Bernard said. "That would be a big question. I'm hopeful there's a chance we could have both races, this one and that one."

Even if McGrath's AB Promotions wishes to try again, the final determination will lie with IndyCar, Bernard said.

Read Full Article on JSOnline