INDY RACING LEAGUE

• New Hampshire added to 2011 IndyCar schedule

  Loudon, NH (Sports Network) - The IZOD IndyCar Series will return to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July 2011, Indy Racing League and NHMS track officials announced on Sunday.

  IRL chief executive officer Randy Bernard, Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman and CEO Bruton Smith and NHMS general manager Jerry Gappens, as well as 2009 IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti, were among those present for the formal announcement, which was made hours before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the flat 1.058-mile oval.

  "We're pleased to restore an Indy car short oval to the schedule to further increase our diversity of venues," Bernard said. ""As evident last weekend in Iowa, our cars produce tremendous racing on short ovals." IndyCar competed at New Hampshire from 1996-98. Two-time NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart won the last IndyCar event here in '98.

  "It will be a great track for us, similar to Milwaukee, with those long straights and those tight corners," Franchitti said. "I'm looking forward to racing here." Last month, IRL officials reveal the City of Baltimore will host an IndyCar race for the first time on a temporary street circuit in the city's downtown area in August 2011.

  IndyCar is off this weekend before they head to the Watkins Glen, NY road course on July 4.

  On Saturday, IndyCar star Danica Patrick competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire, finishing 30th.

  06/27 14:17:40 ET