NEWS » rm to put a run together, says one. It woul

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.Wilbert Montgomery Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Dallas Goedert Jersey . JOHNS, N. http://www.theeaglesfootballauthentic.com/eagles-chuck-bednarik-black-jersey/ . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Jerome Brown Youth Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Seth Joyner Jersey . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U.Sky Sports News HQs Rob Dorsett is in Barcelona ahead of Arsenals Champions League clash and has been speaking with Gunners fans about the future of manager Arsene Wenger.Ask any Arsenal fan here for the game at the Nou Camp, and the same pained expression comes across their face. It hurts them to even think about it. But, with Arsenal facing another last-16 exit from the Champions League, just three days after being knocked out of the FA Cup at home to Watford, theyll tell you the situation is becoming critical.Its the main topic among the travelling groups, in every tapas restaurant and bar along Los Ramblas - and they are divided almost 50-50. Arsenal supporters are realistic about beating Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 second-leg tie The man is an Arsenal man, says one fan. A legend. It should be his choice when he goes. I can see him walking, I honestly can. I cant say a word against him, but there has to be change. We are just going nowhere. We just arent good enough to compete with the likes of Barcelona - one Champions League semi-final in 10 years tells its own story.Its all weve heard among Arsenal fans over here. Its been the only topic of conversation. I will never go on telly and call for him to go. Im 28, and Wenger is all Ive ever known. He is Mr Arsenal. But we are now at a stage where enough is enough. Sometimes change isnt a bad thing. Wengers Arsenal have won the FA Cup for the last two seasons - but crashed out at home to Watford last weekend Its horrible seeing the in-fighting among Arsenal fans right now. He should go. But I hate seeing that banner, the one that says Thanks for the memories, Arsene as the fans row between themselves, and some fight to take it down. We have to get behind the team, and save the arguments until the end of the season.Every Arsenal fan seems to share the sentiment about what Wenger has done for their club, and for English football, over the past two decades. But at least half of the fans Ive spoken to - and maybe more than half - think that its time for a change. Some Arsenal fans held up a banner calling for Arsene Wenger during Arsenals FA Cup win at Hull Its time for him to step down, says another fan I spoke to.dddddddddddd He shouldve done it at end of last season, because now hes starting to become something of a villain for the fans and thats very hard to take, seeing a man whos done so much for the club becoming hated by so many.Hes our greatest ever manager, we can never repay him for what hes done. But there has to come a time when he has to move on, and that time is now. Its overdue.Hes always going to be a legend at our club for what hes done, but I just think its time for a fresh face, fresh ideas. Wenger has had the same ideas for years. That was fair enough when we were paying off the stadium debt. He managed the club very well in that time. But I find it hard to believe there arent better players out there we couldve bought since then. Can Arsenal salvage season? Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith surveys the scene at the Emirates Not one Arsenal fan Ive spoken to believes they can overturn a 2-0 deficit in the Nou Camp. Though a few believe they can get a result that can rejuvenate the squad (and re-engage the fans) for the games that remain this season.We need a bit of passion. Its too late this time. But Im a football fan and an Arsenal fan. Theyre the best team in the world. Their front three is unbelievable in Messi, Neymar and Suarez. Its done now, as a contest. I just hope we give a good account of ourselves.Ive been to Munich and Monaco when weve been two goals behind, and weve gone close. If we get an early goal, you never know. Arsenal fans would prefer Leicester to win the Premier League rather than see Tottenham crowned champions Leicesters victory over Newcastle opened up a five-point gap to second-placed Tottenham in the Premier League title race, and an 11-point gap to Arsenal. No-one Ive met here in Barcelona thinks Arsenal can catch Leicester - but all of them are united in their support of the Foxes - just so long as it prevents their north London rivals claiming the title.Its too big a gap for us now, and we just arent in any sort of form to put a run together, says one. It would be great to see Leicester win it - a great story. Just so long as its not our noisy neighbours down the road! We will all be backing Leicester now.But I think Spurs will win it. And that kills me to say, but I think theyve got the easier run in. Of course Id rather see Leicester win it rather than Spurs, every day of the week. Itd be the first time in my lifetime that theyve finished above us, and it would be unbearable.Im quite enjoying seeing Chelsea and Man City below us, after all the millions theyve spent, but it hurts to see Spurs above us. Obviously Id rather see Leicester win the League rather than them. Wed never hear the end of it otherwise.Also See:Defiant Wenger defends recordKoscielny boost for ArsenalEnrique salute for WengerBarcelona v Arsenal preview ' ' '