By alley - Aug 25, 2016, 4:53 PM ET

INDYCAR: Drivers react to 2017 schedule

IndyCar has drawn widespread praise from its drivers following the

release of the 2017 series schedule

, which they say is better-balanced than in years past.

The 17-race season features a six/five/six split between road courses, street courses and ovals, and one new addition with the return of Gateway for the first time since 2003.

"From a driver standpoint, IndyCar is really a dream championship if you seek to be the best at all disciplines," said Josef Newgarden.

"I like the challenge that when you're working with your team throughout the season; you have to be able to switch between a street course, road course and an oval back-to-back-to-back every weekend in facing a challenge of going from one to the other every time. It's not easy for a lot of people to do.

"Having Gateway added on is just a bonus for me. It's one of those types of tracks that I really like. I think it's going to put on a great show for IndyCar, and it's going to add more to the diversity of what we already have."

"Love the new IndyCar schedule," said RLL's Graham Rahal via Twitter. "Great balance of ovals and road courses, and nice schedule length! If you're an IndyCar fan you must be excited. Next year is the first step in a great future plan thanks to [competition boss] Jay Frye and team! Can't wait."

Rahal's enthusiasm was echoed by Andretti's Ryan Hunter-Reay.

"Great job by IndyCar," he tweeted. "A schedule like this is what makes this series a well-rounded championship."

ECR owner/driver Ed Carpenter tested at Gateway last November, and welcomes the 1.25 mile oval's return.

"I think it's going to be a really good track for the current IndyCar," he said. "It's a very unique and demanding track. Turns 1 and 2 are very tight. [Turns] 3 and 4 are a little more open. Having a little more downforce than the cars had when they were last here in 2003 is going to be a good thing for the quality of racing; the quality of show that we can put on for the fans.

Although the 2017 season will run across a similar timespan as this year's schedule, Ganassi's Charlie Kimball believes that pacing of next year's events will be more sympathetic to teams.

"I think it's a great schedule," he said. "There are some really nice breaks in there – one of the things this year that's been really tough is [the effect] on the guys, the mechanics, their families."

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