INDIANAPOLIS – As IndyCar speeds toward a future that will include more teams, more cars and maybe more races, the time is fast approaching for its leadership to begin the process of securing more exposure — both digitally and on television.

On the digital front, this will mean building off an astonishing 2017. According to the series, its garnered 8.4 million viewers for its live-streamed content — up 300 percent from 2016 — largely buoyed by the 2 million-plus viewers who watched Fernando Alonso’s first test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As of Monday, the series also boasted year-to-date increases of 25 percent in visits to IndyCar.com and many other gains across social media platforms.

However, its foothold in the traditional TV market is less than sensational.

Though Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles was pleased with the 3 percent growth IndyCar showed on NBC Sports Network this season, he is looking to claim a bigger share of the motorsports footprint than the channel's season average of about 500,000 viewers per race.

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To put that number in perspective, NASCAR is in crisis mode after its playoff race at Chicagoland Speedway this past weekend drew 2.3 million viewers on NBCSN, the second-lowest viewership for a Cup Series race since 2000.

Still, Miles is proud that as the live sports viewing landscape evolves, and many major sports are witnessing declines, IndyCar has managed stability.

In fact, IndyCar’s digital growth and resilience amid market trends are two feathers in Miles’ cap as he sorts through suitors for IndyCar’s next TV contract. With IndyCar’s current pact expiring at the end of 2018, Miles has been engaged in this process for months now, but said he’s not yet reached the negotiation phase with any parties.

“What we’re doing right now is identifying who wants to talk with us about their interests in various ways that we can slice and dice our rights, both in the U.S. and then soon to begin in Europe,” said Miles, who added that he’s spoken with all of the major players in both traditional and live-streaming media platforms.

“We’re encouraged that there are a number of parties that want everything, and/or pieces of our schedule. So that gives us the chance to look at it every way and see what’s strongest in terms of exposure and economics.”

Paring down the list of suitors and what they’re offering is Step 1 for Miles and Co. Step 2 will be discussing rights fees with the parties that IndyCar is most interested in working with. Miles concedes he cannot yet gauge IndyCar’s value in the open market, but is optimistic that a competitive market place will drive up the series’ value.

Miles did not specify which parties IndyCar is most intrigued by, but he did provide a few hints about the direction he intends to take the series.

While Miles has had a long-stated desire to keep IndyCar events on one channel — and remains determined to do so — he said it is time to become "more flexible" and consider IndyCar living on a family of channels that belong to the same network (e.g., NBCSN and MSNBC under the NBC umbrella). That would still be preferable to IndyCar's current contract, which splits coverage between ABC and NBC.

Miles also prefers to keep any deal relatively short, explaining that technology is evolving so quickly that he doesn't want IndyCar boxed into an outdated pact.

"We also have the schedules for when all the other sports' TV rights are up, and that's not unimportant to think about who will be in the marketplace in which years."

Miles did not specify NASCAR in his comments, but for reference, the stock car series' deals with NBC and FOX both expire after the 2024 season.

Finally, Miles was adamant that he would not be comfortable making a deal with a solely digital entity. In other words, he is not looking to sell IndyCar’s exclusive broadcasting rights to a company such as Amazon, Twitter or Yahoo — companies with no current presence in the traditional television market.

“It’s hard to see enough of us getting enough exposure through those platforms alone,” Miles said, while noting Amazon's lackluster debut broadcast of Thursday Night Football. “It would only be a fraction of what traditional television delivers."

Of course, Miles is open to discuss what is called over-the-top distribution rights with those digital-only entities.

Consider Thursday Night Football. The NFL program will be shared this year by CBS, NBC and NFL Network but will also be available to be live-streamed on Amazon. Miles would be interested in negotiating a similar simulcasting deal, however, that’s easier said than done.

Most TV networks resist the idea of over-the-top, live-streamed coverage for obvious reasons.

There is no timeline for when IndyCar would like to strike a deal, but Miles hopes to have a clear picture by the end of the year. And he’s optimistic that picture will be one he and IndyCar fans are happy to look at.

“I’m being frank when I say this,” Miles said. “Right now, we feel quite bullish about it. There are good, competitive options out there, which will be better for us promotionally and economically.”

Other notes from IndyStar’s conversation with IndyCar CEO Miles:

>> Miles remains optimistic that a 2018 schedule will include a race in Mexico City, but said IndyCar is announcing its calendar “with or without them” by the end of next week. Miles added that it’s possible the schedule could be amended after next week if the deal with the Mexican organizers comes together later.

>> There have been reports that Verizon plans to leave IndyCar following the expiration of its contract with the series in 2018. Miles did not confirm or deny those reports, but said the two parties' “relationship will change."

"We haven’t completely concluded (negotiations), and I’m not going to add anything else today, but I think it will be clear soon.” Miles said. He added that IndyCar has not begun to “prospect for” another potential title sponsor to replace Verizon — should it leave — as that would be “inappropriate until things are clear with Verizon.”

>> After an underwhelming crowd showed up for the 2017 championship finale at Sonoma Raceway, some have called for a reconfiguration of the IndyCar calendar, many hoping to end the season on an oval.

Miles said that while the 2018 calendar will look largely the same as this year’s, he is willing to look at the possibility of making some changes for the years to come and acknowledged that an oval finale would be ideal.

“For 2019 and beyond, we’ll have the opportunity to take as a fresh a look as we’ll get because we’ve set it up so that almost all of our promoter agreements go through 2018. So as soon as we get the (2018) calendar out, we’ll start to work re-imagine the kind of improvements we could have for 2019.”

>> Do not expect IndyCar to sing a different tune regarding the local blackout for the Indianapolis 500 anytime soon.

"Out outlook hasn't changed," Miles said. "This is an event, because of its enormity, and the number of spectators on site in order to make it successful, we have to be pretty risk averse in terms of the dynamic of live television and spectator attendance.

"We understand there are people who can't get here who would love to watch it live, and that's not far from top of mind. But at the same time, the race is shown same day, with a huge TV audience watching it here. And it is available by radio live, and we get a pretty good cross-section of people from out community out here to watch."

Follow IndyStar Motor Sports Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter and Instagram: @jimayello.