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INDIANAPOLIS -- The IndyCar series is taking its season-opening race to one of its best training grounds next season -- Brazil.

Terry Angstadt, president of Indy Racing League's commercial division, confirmed Tuesday the series intends to race next March in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, about 200 miles from the capital of Sao Paulo. A date is not expected to be announced until late July, when the entire schedule is released.

Although final details are still being worked out, Angstadt is confident the series, which split from CART in the mid-1990s, will make its first foray into South America next year.

"We thought we were off the radar screen too long when we started in April this year, and that was one of our goals, to start in March," Angstadt said. "It's a great economy down there. Has the world economic crisis affected them? Yes, but not as much as the U.S."

The move makes sense from a strategic perspective.

APEX-Brasil joined the series this year as the sole provider of the ethanol fuel used in open-wheel cars and has been running spot ads throughout IndyCar telecasts all season.

The sport also is popular in Brazil, which has produced a large contingent of successful and popular IndyCar drivers. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and 2004 points champion Tony Kanaan both call Brazil home. Former Indy pole-winner Bruno Junqueira, who has not driven in an IndyCar race this season, and Vitor Meira, who hasn't driven since injuring his back at Indy, also are from Brazil along with series regulars Raphael Matos and Mario Moraes.

Two other familiar names on the circuit, E.J. Viso and Milka Duno, are from Venezuela.

Plus, it gives Castroneves, one of the highest-profile IndyCar drivers, a chance to run on a street course in his hometown.

"It will be run through a city park," Angstadt said. "It's a high-tech city, it's very cosmopolitan and it's in the heart of the sugarcane area."

But this could be only the start of changes for IndyCars.

Angstadt said next season's projected 18-race schedule, one more than 2009, is expected to include an even split of oval races and those on street courses.

Team Penske president Tim Cindric thinks it's a marketing plan the series needs.

"What differentiates this series is that these cars are designed to run on all these types of tracks and no other series is like that," he said. "I think it merits marketing."

Brazil is not likely to be the only new venue next season.

Angstadt said series officials are still negotiating with race organizers in Alabama to run IndyCars in the heart of NASCAR country. The venue would be Birmingham's Barber Motorsports Park, where there was a test in March.

That deal also has not been completed.

"We have given them every indication that we would love to come there and race," Angstadt said.

If two races are added next season, one of this year's venues would likely be dropped.

Angstadt declined to answer which one might be left out, but series officials announced Sunday that the IRL would return to Iowa in 2010.

IndyCars is also is taking a long look at adding China to its schedule in 2011 or 2012.

Angstadt said the series hopes to have a Chinese driver in that race and has already identified three potential prospects that could soon compete in the developmental Indy Lights series. The city under consideration is Qingdao, which hosted the Beijing Olympics sailing competition.

An announcement could come later this year.

The Chinese plan to build a racing venue that could hold up to 500,000 fans. But it might not be finished until 2012. So if the series goes to China in two years, Angstadt said they would likely use a temporary street course.

For now, though, it's all about the early start in Brazil where an IndyCar race is expected to draw a big crowd.

"March in the U.S. is very much dominated by March Madness and basketball tournaments and that's very difficult to contend with," said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and race operations. "It's really not much different from what baseball has done the last couple of years, opening its season in Japan."

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press