INDYCAR: Miles exploring Boston replacement

Above: Ryan Briscoe leads Helio Castroneves at Watkins Glen in July 2010.

"Obviously I'm trying to determine if we have a Plan B and we can pull a rabbit out of a hat," the president and CEO of Hulman & Company said Friday night. "It was very disappointing to get this news, but now we're focused on seeing if we have enough time to replace it. And we've got to make sure it's a quality event."

Miles paused, then added: "But I don't see it being a street race."

The Grand Prix of Boston was scheduled for Labor Day weekend, so it could be tricky trying to put something together for Sept. 2-4 since it's only four months away.

If IndyCar wants to try an oval, Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois, would appear to be a viable option since it's already been approved as a test track and president Curtis Francois has made it known he wants the Verizon series at his track.

The problem might be that an NHRA weekend is scheduled Sept. 23-25.

"Gateway obviously wants to have an IndyCar race and I'll call them but I don't want to do anything to jeopardize their re-entry into the series," Miles said of the short oval that hosted CART from 1996-2000 before the Indy Racing League took over from 2001-03.

Auto Club Speedway, scene of one of the most exciting IndyCar races in recent history last June, could also be a possibility except for the likelihood of boiling hot temperatures at that time of the year.

New Hampshire got a lot of support on social media in the hours after the Boston announcement, but Loudon hosts NASCAR July 17 and Sept. 25 – in the Chase – so forget that as an option.

There is also a possibility IndyCar might try a road course, and Watkins Glen looks pretty wide open after its NASCAR show on August 7. IndyCar ran nine times at the scenic layout in upstate New York from 1979 to 2010 but had trouble drawing in its last try over the Fourth of July weekend six years ago.

It's the second time in Miles' regime he's had a venue red-flagged (Brasilia in 2013), but this one sounded rocky from the start despite the political assurances.

"We had a signed agreement with a promotional group that demonstrated the financial wherewithal to do the job and they had a signed agreement with the city of Boston," Miles said.

"We met with the Mayor's cabinet and they were all very supportive."

Boston was set to be the 15th of 16 races in 2016 with Sonoma hosting the season finale on Sept 18.