Star Mazda announces 2009 schedule

The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear released the 13-race 2009 schedule this afternoon, as the series completed it's penultimate event on the 2008 schedule. The 2009 season, it's 19th season as the most popular North American open-wheel driver development series, kicks off with their traditional date as part of the 57th annual Mobil1 12 Hours of Sebring on March 20 and concludes with another traditional stop at the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on October 10.

There are 13 races on the schedule which will be run over the course of 11 weekends, including double-headers at New Jersey Motorsports Park on June 13-14 and at a new addition to the schedule, the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois on July 25-26.  Both events will be MAZDASPEED Motorsports weekends which will feature the Star Mazda Championship as it's headliner.

Probably the most interesting change to the schedule is the addition of two oval events, reflecting the changes in the ladder system and diversity required to move up the ladder to the top tier of American open wheel as a result of the reunification of the sport in 2008.

This will be the first time since 2006 that the Star Mazda series has run on ovals. Both will be 100-lap events, the first running prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the Milwaukee Mile on June 20 and the second under the lights with ARCA at the Iowa Speedway tri-oval on July 10. 

"A lot of thought and negotiation went into the creation of this schedule after the all the last-minute changes all the series had to do after the sudden unification of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League," says Star Mazda Championship President Gary Rodrigues. "We've eliminated the giant gaps that made the early part of our 2008 schedule difficult for teams and drivers, and, in recognition of the current open-wheel racing landscape and the career goals of many of Star Mazda drivers, we will once again provide them with experience racing on ovals.  We will be sharing the spotlight on major race weekends with American Le Mans, Grand-Am, the Atlantic Championship, NASCAR Sprint Cup and ARCA, as well as two double-header MAZDASPEED weekends where Star Mazda will be the headline series.  As in 2008, except for the ovals, we will have standing starts and our drivers will be racing for one of the most coveted prizes in open-wheel racing, the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder scholarship to move up and race in the 2010 Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda."

All races will be continue to be broadcast during weekend prime time on SPEED TV.

Star Mazda 2009 Schedule is as follows:
Date / Location / Track Type / With

March 20 / Sebring, FL / Road Course / ALMS
April 25 / Virginia International Raceway / Road Course / Grand-Am
May 16 / Miller Motorsports Park / Road Course / ALMS
June 13-14 / New Jersey Motorsports Park / Road Course / Feature Race (2 races)
June 20 / Milwaukee Mile / Oval / NASCAR Sprint Cup
July 10 / Iowa Speedway / Oval / ARCA RE/MAX
July 25 – 26 / Autobahn, Joliet IL / Road Course / Feature Race (2 races)
August 16 / Trois Rivieres / Street Circuit / Feature Race w/Atlantic
August 29 / Mosport / Road Course / ALMS
September 25 / Road Atlanta / Road Course / ALMS
October 10 / Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca / Road Course / ALMS

"We're excited about our 2009 schedule and are already getting orders for new cars from both current and new teams," said Rodrigues.  "We plan to start delivering new cars in December of this year, and they will include enhanced aerodynamics as well as improvements to serviceability and construction details.  In keeping with the Star Mazda mission of keeping racing affordable, however, all upgrades will be available to bring current cars up to the new specs."

The Star Mazda Championship and Mazda North American Operations just recently announced a 5-year title sponsorship extension making it one of the longest-running and most successful motorsports partnerships in the history of the sport.

"It's hard to believe that the Star Mazda series is nearing their twentieth anniversary.  The 2009 schedule will be a great driver challenge with the addition of two ovals.  Given the Indycar successes of recent Star Mazda alums like Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal, this could lead to even greater opportunities for the next Star Mazda class as they will be showcased on ovals, road courses and street circuits ," noted Jim Jordan, Alternative Marketing Manager, Mazda North American Operations.  

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