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The Verizon IndyCar Series trend of small, measured growth is reflected in the 2017 schedule announced Thursday.?The 17-race slate is almost identical to the 2016 schedule, with the exception of Phoenix moving from early April to the end of the month and the addition of a night race at Gateway Motorsports Park.?Its the earliest that IndyCar has announced its schedule in a decade, and officials hope the additional advance time will help promoters build on the increased attendance the series has seen at many venues in recent years.?The foundation of it, and the priority for us, is to the greatest extent possible have continuity and date equity from year over year with our races, said Hulman Motorsports CEO Mark Miles. We want to just grow that base carefully, and I think the 16 plus one or 17 for 17 demonstrates that.?The March 12 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg serves as the IndyCar opener for the 13th consecutive year, followed by a momentum-killing, four-week gap prior to the 43rd annual Long Beach Grand Prix, set for April 9.?Unlike a year ago, when Phoenix preceded Long Beach, the desert mile has been shifted to April 29 to avoid a conflict with the NCAA Final Four, which is set to be staged at University of Phoenix Stadium from March 31-April 3. The popular road course event at Barber Motorsports Park splits the western races with an April 23 date.?Following the traditional month of May activities at Indianapolis, the schedule is identical to 2016 through late August, when the 1.25-mile Gateway oval returns to the IndyCar rotation for the first time since 2003.?Under new ownership, the track has been repaved and upgraded, and the addition of another oval helps the balance of the schedule, which now features six ovals races, six on natural terrain road courses and five on temporary street circuits.?Our fans who think of it from many years ago will be delighted with what they see at Gateway, Miles said. Its a terrific place, and it was designed for IndyCar racing. Itll be a compelling race for sure, another short oval were pleased to add.?After being added to the 2016 schedule at short notice to replace a street race in Boston that failed to get off the ground, Watkins Glen International announced a two-year contract extension with IndyCar that keeps the Labor Day weekend date through 2018. The championship again wraps up on the road course at Sonoma Raceway.?Miles stated that all of the current IndyCar tracks have contracts through 2018. Work continues to create an international race to start the year in February, with the revival of an IndyCar race in Surfers Paradise, Australia, the most obvious solution.?Having tasted success with the return of longtime Indy car venue Road America this year, the series current management is more open to considering former CART tracks such as Portland International Raceway, which would fit nicely into the August gap in the schedule in 2018. Finding another warm-weather domestic event to run in March is another priority.?I dont see it expanding in the next year or so in any major way, but given the demand and the interest, I think well have good choices and can be quite careful, Miles said.?Its not a coincidence that the makeup of the 2017 IndyCar schedule looks a lot like those from the 1980s and 90s, when the sport was in its most successful era. The variety of tracks is enjoyable for fans and challenging for drivers and teams.?If you seek to be the best and the most well-rounded driver within the world, I think IndyCar is really the only championship that offers that, said star driver Josef Newgarden. From a driver standpoint, the IndyCar championship is really kind of a dream championship if you seek to be the best at all disciplines. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . 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TORONTO -- The Toronto Raptors recalled first-round draft pick Jakob Poeltl from their NBA Development League affiliate.Bruno Caboclo and Fred VanVleet were also recalled from Raptors 905 on Sunday.Poeltl, who was drafted ninth overall in the 2016 draft, has played in eight NBA games this season. The 21-year-old is averaging 3.8 points and 4.6 rebounds.All three players were in action for Raptors 905 on Saturday iin a 100-91 loss to the Maine Red Claws.dddddddddddd VanVleet had a game-high 23 points and Poeltl added 21 points and 15 rebounds.The Raptors return to Air Canada Centre on Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. Toronto is coming off a five-game road trip and has won two in a row. ' ' '