Will Portland replace The Glen on IndyCar calendar?

ABOVE: CART Indy cars at Portland International Raceway in 1999.

The 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule isn't out yet but there's more than Mexico City holding it up. It sounds like Watkins Glen could be gone and possibly replaced by an old friend from CART's heyday.

The Glen rescued IndyCar in 2016 after the Boston race was deep sixed, but despite good races, the attendance for the Labor Day shows hasn't been much to cheer about. In a conversation with RACER last week, Watkins Glen International president Michael Printup talked about the disappointment.

"We've had two good races but it's been an uphill climb trying to make it work," said Printup, who is thought to have leased the legendary road course to IndyCar. "I don't think the dates help us any because July 4 and Labor Day don't seem to be good. I asked IndyCar about changing dates but there weren't any available."

So in the event The Glen is off the calendar, the replacement could be Portland or Nashville – with Portland the favorite based on reports the city is very interested in reviving its road course race that hosted CART from 1984-2003 and then Champ Car from 2004-'07.

Mark Miles president and CEO of Human & Company, is optimistic the schedule will be done next week but insists, "nothing has been decided or signed yet."